Articles in this series on testing and evaluation specifically address the use of tests to assess and improve educational status; achievement test selection; and trend toward increased use of coaching materials to improve test performance. Professional literature on educational measurement is reviewed. (MBR)

In 1995, nearly three-quarters of a million high school dropouts took the General Educational Development (GED) tests. The half million individuals who passed the test accounted for approximately one-sixth of all high school diplomas issued that year. On average, GED recipients perform as well as graduating high school seniors on the five tests…

The Personal Progress Index, designed to assess students' knowledge at regular intervals, is administered at the McMaster University (Ontario) Faculty of Health Sciences three times annually. Feedback is provided to students, and accumulated student performance is determined for summative evaluation. Results over 4 classes (n=400) show it to be…

Chinese secondary school students (n=242) and teachers (n=415) responded to the Chinese version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). Comparison of the scales derived from the four isolated factors with the original WCQ suggests that they are useful in studying a Chinese population. (SLD)

Critiques the 1990 revision of the Slosson Intelligence Test. The SIT-R is an untimed, individually administered screening instrument that assesses the mental ability of children and adults. Many of the problems with the original version have been addressed in the revised version, but with varying success. (LKS)

Reported stressors and patterns of coping strategies of 484 high school students were studied through their responses on the COPE Inventory and other measures. Results support the measure's internal consistency but suggest significant gender differences and four factors among the subscales. Implications for the instruments' use with adolescents…

The effectiveness of representative teacher evaluation instruments for assessing the eligibility of public school teachers for merit pay was evaluated via a literature review. Elementary school principals' (N=200) ratings of teachers were analyzed. Rating instruments may be useful for making initial decisions about who should be eligible for…

Some issues involved in the measurement of student motivation and learning strategies are explored, focusing on a self-report instrument, the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). The MSLQ, designed to assess the motivational orientation and learning strategy use of college students and based on a social-cognitive view, has been…

This paper looks at alternative assessment and explores its place in educational reform. It gives a snapshot of alternative assessment in practice, guidelines for establishing it as part of the urban school culture, and resources for additional information. Alternative assessments differ from traditional tests in that they require students to…

This book considers legal questions, theoretical issues, and practical methods for meeting the assessment needs of students with disabilities. It is comprised of ten chapters and includes test accommodation topics relating to federal and state regulations (including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997), problems…

The development of the Polish Proficiency Test, a standardized, nationally-normed test of listening and reading comprehension for English-speaking learners of Polish, is reported. An introductory chapter provides background information about the test's development, including discussion of the relationship between the test and Polish language…

The purpose of this study was to review and evaluate the Basic Inventory of Natural Language (BINL) to help determine whether it should continue to be used in Honolulu's Students of Limited English Proficiency (SLEP) Program. The study looked at four critical aspects of the BINL: its content validity, its test-retest reliability, its effectiveness…

The Social Integration Scale (SIS) is intended to facilitate empirical research on the applicability of control theory to many types of adult crime, including "street crime," white collar crime, and physical assaults on spouses. There are five subscales: (1) belief (belief in law and social control); (2) commitment (psychological…

Discusses the entrenched nature of standardized testing in the educational system, the anti-testing movement and its supporting evidence, shifts in policy since 1980, current trends, the investment of publishers and test-makers in standardized testing, the true costs of standardized testing, and specifically "American" characteristics of…

Elucidates the concepts of evaluation, and maintains that evaluation is an integral part of music education, at all levels. Expounds on the functions of evaluation in music education, dividing the discussion into the following categories: achievement, diagnostic, aptitude, and attitude functions. Addresses the concerns and criticisms of…