"Linking" is a term given to a general class of procedures by which one represents scores X on one test or measure in terms of scores Y on another test or measure. A recent taxonomy by Holland and Dorans (2006; Holland, 2007) organizes the various types of links into three broad categories: prediction, scale aligning, and equating. In…

Newton's article (2010) makes three main contributions to the literature. First, it is transatlantic, bringing together literatures that have been dealing with similar problems, using sometimes different methods and certainly with distinctive educational, cultural perspectives. He points out that neither of these literatures has all of the…

In general, this study found that the validity of single MMPI scales for predicting psychiatric symptoms was too low to be clinically useful for predictions about the individual case. The psychotic scales were particularly lacking in validity. The validity data for all scales is given. (Author/CG)

Validity coefficients, standard errors of estimate, and prediction are discussed. An argument is made for the potential utility of tests with validity coefficients of .60, .50, .40, and even .30, because they can predict the extremes, which is especially valuable for many purposes, such as counseling, college admissions, and personnel selection.…

In response to Ebel's article (TM 508 146) the author points out that, in emphasizing what a test is intended to measure, the vital question of what should be measured is set aside. While explicit specifications for a test should be encouraged, questions of worth ought to be prominent in designing and selecting tests. (Author/LC)

States that the correlation between social desirability (SD) and hopelessness is open to several interpretations, but, in the absence of further data, concern for false-negative rates dictates caution in interpreting hopelessness scores when assessing suicidal behavior. Presents data on the relationship of SD, hopelessness, and prediction of…

Expectancy tables are discussed as a device for interpreting the meaning of test results for those untrained in statistics. Three ways of organizing an expectancy table are discussed: (1) to determine the probability that a student with a given test score will succeed in a specified course; (2) to find out how to pick the best applicants; and (3)…

WHILE REPORTS ON THE USE OF STANDARDIZED TESTS IN JUNIOR COLLEGES ARE COMMONLY TABULATIONS OF SCORES, SOME COLLEGES HAVE STUDIED TOPICS SUCH AS THE RELATIONSHIP OF TEST SCORES TO GENERAL COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT, VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN PREDICTING SUCCESS IN SPECIFIC COURSES, AND EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN STUDENTS DURING THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCES.…

The confusion between content validity and construct validity runs rampant in psychology today. Possibly nothing has highlighted this confusion so much as the various efforts to develop guidelines on test validation. Defines content and construct validity and attempts to provide some guidelines to clarify the conten-construct problem. (Author/RK)

A natural experiment dramatically reveals that scores on a difficult standardized mathematics aptitude test predicts achievement in mathematics over a 2 or 3-year period considerably better than the judgment of the students' present mathematics teacher. (Author/AM)

The relative predictive validity of girls' and boys' success in algebra is examined. Eighth-grade students completed the Orleans-Hanna Algebra Prognosis Test. These prognosis test scores were correlated with grades that students subsequently earned in first-year algebra. Algebra grades of girls proved to be the more predictable. (Author/DWH)

The literature on validity provides much more guidance on how to collect various kinds of validity evidence than it does on which kinds of evidence to collect in specific cases. An argument-based approach to validation redresses the balance by linking the kinds of evidence needed to validate a test-score interpretation to the details of the…

The paper presented evidence of the criterion related validity of several Comprehensive Ability Battery (CAB) tests relative to criterion variables representing first year college achievement. Information regarding the criterion related validity of nontraditional tests of the CAB reflecting divergent production hypothesized to be associated with…

Responds to Fry's article in the January 1971 Reading Teacher, The Orangoutang Score." Suggests that chance level scores should not be assumed to have arisen only from random processes and that there are methods for identifying a thoughtful, nonrandom performance. References. (VJ)

A RETESTING WAS MADE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEASURED INTERESTS AND THE SELECTION OF A MEDICAL SPECIALTY. SPECIFICALLY, THE RESEARCH REPORTED HERE ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE STRONG VOCATIONAL INTEREST BLANK (SVIB) AND THE MEDICAL SPECIALIST PREFERENCE BLANK (MSPB) SCALES FAIL TO PREDICT EVENTUAL MEDICAL SPECIALTY. ALL OF THE ANALYSES OF AN…