Though many test developers have utilized item response theory in their work, few have taken advantage of the potential of item response theory for providing new interpretation procedures that accentuate the educational implications to be drawn from test scores. This paper describes several features, based upon the Rasch difficulty and ability…

Normal Curve Equivalents (NCEs), a new score system for standardized tests, are used by school districts in reporting results to federal funding agencies. The author uses a quiz format to answer questions on the use of NCE scores. (EGS)

Analysis of results of the Skills Confidence Inventory completed by 1147 employed adults and 706 college students revealed minimal gender differences in self-efficacy within 21 occupations and 6 Holland job families. (SK)

The booklet was designed to help each recipient of the California Achievement Test (CAT) reports to understand the general format of the reports, the abbreviations and symbols used, and the types of scores presented. It was also intended to assist in interpreting CAT results and using these results at each level of the educational process to best…

This book is designed to help mental health professionals acquire the knowledge and skills to use the Cognitive Abilities battery of the Woodcock-Johnson[TM] comprehensive assessment system (WJ III). The WJ III was recently divided into the Cognitive Abilities and the Achievement batteries. The chapters are: (1) "Overview"; (2) "How…

This fastback provides information about what tests can and cannot do, how they are constructed, and how they are used and misused. It offers suggestions about how best to interpret test results. The chapters are: (1) "A Test on Testing"; (2) "Basic Considerations"; (3) "Standardized Tests"; (4) "Performance Tests"; (5) "Interpreting Test Scores";…

This chapter reviews the findings of a joint committee of the American School Counselor Association and the Association for Assessment in Counseling in the development of a document describing the assessment and evaluation competencies school counselors need. Among the skills universally considered important were making decisions about which…

Examined scatter analysis and Kaufman regroupings of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised scores. Findings from 31 non-learning-disabled children and 29 learning-disabled children revealed significant difference in Verbal and Performance intelligence quotients between learning-disabled and nondisabled children, with significantly more…

Presents a brief discussion of the use and misuse of psychometric tests as well as discriminatory practices. Presents a case of freedom of choice. Discusses the need for further research with particular emphasis on program evaluation. (RS)

The Career Maturity Inventory was revised in 1995 using previously unpublished longitudinal data for item selection. The new inventory has 25 attitude and 25 competence items, each yielding a score that measures degree of career maturity of conative and cognitive variables, respectively. (SK)

The importance of educational accountability and assessment literacy is recognized as a long-term challenge to the educational system. The complexities in becoming an assessment literate and provide an opportunity to the educators to display their effective learning is discussed.

This survey examined the test use practices of counselors who belong to either or both of two divisions of the American Association for Counseling and Development: the American School Counselors Association, and the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. A questionnaire covering test use patterns, test…

Examines limitations of standard scores of achievement tests used in diagnosing learning disabilities. Consideration of these limitations is important in deciding whether a marked discrepancy exists between ability and achievement. Recommends use of developmental standard scores over status standard scores. (Author/ABB)

This CD ROM is designed for use by teachers singly or in groups. It may also be used by technical assistance providers preparing to work with teachers. The CD ROM provides an interactive tool to help teachers analyze and interpret standardized test data, use data to plan for effective instruction, develop classroom assessments that align with…

This Digest addresses developing scoring rubrics, administering performance assessments, and scoring, interpreting, and using results. In developing scoring rubrics, the criteria within the scoring rubric should be clearly aligned with the requirements of the task and the state goals and objectives. They should also be expressed in terms of…