The mathematical and philosophical origins of "analogy" are described and their influence on the thinking of intelligence theorists is traced. Theories of intelligence and cognition bearing on analogical reasoning are examined, specifically those of Spearman, Thorndike, Guilford and Piaget. The analogy test item is shown to be a paradigm…

The basic objective of the study was to determine the validity of four new indices of item quality. Three of these were based on analyses of differential, empirical weights for item choices, and the fourth was designed to measure the relative attractiveness of distracters. A secondary objective was to ascertain the validity of the conventional…

During the past decade both the Guilford and Torrence groups have developed numerable measures to assess creative potential. Many of these measures purport to evaluate "creativity" but one element seems to be lacking in each: i.e., the last of "reality-based, real world measures" which would allow relevant response tendencies…

Concommitant with changes in education, health care roles, and evaluation in recent years, a new six year combined B.S. and M.D. program was inititated at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Evaluation was integrated into the academic plan in order to assess student progress toward the overall goal of becoming a safe physician, as well as…

A list of nine recommendations is put forth with regard to standardized achievement tests. Its rationale is based on the need for fair and effective assessment processes that can be used for diagnosing and prescribing for the needs of individual children. (Author/AM)

Evaluates the effectiveness of reading readiness tests in predicting readiness for reading instruction and in diagnosing deficiencies of prerequisite skills for reading; reports the results of a survey on the use of reading readiness tests in 15 school districts. (GW)

The authors suggest that there may be a phenomenon of posttest sensitization which could affect the generalizability of experimental results in the way that pretest sensitization does. A quasi-experimental design is proposed to test for such a phenomenon. (JKS)

A debate concerning specific issues and the general usefulness of the Rasch latent trait test model is continued. Methods of estimation, necessary sample size, and the applicability of the model are discussed. (JKS)

An education reporter who took a leave of absence to observe competency-based education writes about his findings, which include both support and criticism of competency-based programs. (MF)

The Arthur Adaptation of the Leiter International Performance Scale, Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Performance Section were administered to 31 children with mild to moderate hearing impairments. A comparison of test results indicated moderate convergent validity among the measures. (Author)

Examines the claims of the developers of the Adult Performance Level (APL) program to improve the teaching and testing of adults enrolled in federally supported adult basic education programs, identifies APL's theoretical problems, scrutinizes the technical aspects of its development, and evaluates the role of the U.S. Office of Education in these…

The Tactile Test of Basic Concepts (TTBC), a tactile analog to the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts (BTBC), was field tested with 75 blind students (kindergarten to grade 2) and the scores compared with those of sighted Ss used in the standardization sample for the BTBC. (Author/IM)

Explains and provides examples of test validity and reliability. (SL)

The author responds to W. Arndt's and M. Byrne's criticisms of the Northwestern Syntax Screening Test (NSST), a test for assessing receptive and expressive grammar in young children. (SBH)

Suggests some practical testing skills needed by the classroom teacher. (Author/RK)