The Threat Index (TI), theoretically based on George Kelly's personal construct theory, was developed as a measure of death orientation. Outlines the emerging reliability and validity picture. The aim is to give direction to future TI research by summarizing and critically evaluating the currently available data. (Author)

Examines the controversy surrounding the administration of the Metropolitan Achievement Test on reading and the subsequent recall of the results data by the chancellor of the New York City schools. (IRT)

Assessed the reliability and criterion validity of the Physical Activity Monitor, a telephone-interview adaptation of the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ), for assessing trends in the Canadian population. Interviews with Canadian adults and comparisons of the Monitor against the Campbell's Survey of Well-Being…

Evaluates the stability of the Relational Dimensions Instrument (RDI) as a measure of people's general beliefs about the characteristics of the ideal marriage. Shows little stability for these judgments in college students who took the test twice, one year apart. Casts doubt on whether college students' implicit theories of marriage are tapped by…

Presents an 11-item alternative to the longer 25-item measure of teacher affinity seeking. Indicates that the measure is both reliable and valid for use with appropriate research questions. Presents broad guidelines for use. (SR)

Research evaluated psychometric properties of College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS) using a sample of African American college students. CAPS was evaluated for reliability and accuracy in identifying potential abusive drinkers. Results indicate that CAPS is a reliable and effective device for identification of abusive drinking among African…

The Individualism-Collectivism Vocational Attitudes Questionnaire (ICVAQ) was developed to assess cultural attitudes and behaviors that may be important in the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities from diverse cultural backgrounds. Results of study were mixed but provided some support for the reliability and…

Describes the development and validation of the Standards Performance Continuum (SPC) for assessing teacher performance of the Standards for Effective Pedagogy. Three studies involving Florida, California, and New Mexico public school teachers provided evidence of inter-rater reliability, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity…

Examined frequency of reports of psychometric properties for scales in 1967, 1977, and 1987 volumes of "Journal of Counseling Psychology." Found that researchers increasingly provided reference citations for scales and reliability estimates as well as reliability estimates for samples, but majority of 1987 scales had no reported sample…

Outlines some practical procedures for assessing test quality. Tests are relevant when learning outcomes have been correctly defined, when test content is aligned with instructional objectives, and when test and instructional formats are similar. Reliable tests follow administration, scoring, and interpretation procedures and consider difficulty…

Describes development of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), self-report inventory for measuring severity of anxiety in psychiatric populations. Describes study results which showed BAI to have high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and to discriminate anxious diagnostic groups from nonanxious diagnostic groups. (Author/NB)

Data are presented on the validity and reliability of a new form of employee honesty testing: "The Integrity Interview." Results indicated that this instrument was a reliable alternative to commonly used written measures, although further study is needed to establish normative data across different employee populations and settings.…

Describes the development and psychometric properties of the Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MSEQ), a self-report measure of memory ability and confidence. The MSEQ and its alternate versions were examined in 3 experiments involving 558 adults. Satisfactory estimates of internal consistency and test-retest stability were obtained. (RJC)

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, a standardized protocol for observation of social and communicative behavior associated with autism, is described. Data on interrater reliability as well as test-retest reliability and discriminant validity are provided. (Author/DB)

Further examines the reliability of the Developing Understanding of Self and Others Affectivity Assessment Device by increasing the sample size from previous studies, and by including samples for the second, third, and fourth grade. All correlations were in the range of the two previous studies. (JPS)