Reported is a study designed to estimate reliability of a Q-sort self-concept instrument for science teachers and science students. (Author/SA)

Classical item analysis and Rasch latent trait analysis were applied to the responses of a sample of undergraduates to two measures concerning alcoholism. Little difference in terms of practical considerations was found between the methods. (JKS)

In comparing educated, adjusted male homosexuals to educated, adjusted heterosexuals, no differences were found between the groups using the traditional index of homosexuality on the Rorschach. Results suggest the traditional index is not valid and should not be used in clinical settings as a measure to assess homosexuality. (Author)

Two achievement tests in French are critically examined: one on the students' vocabulary after three years of French, and one designed for student placement. Both are found to be reliable. The validity of their content and construction is discussed. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The reliability and validity of the positive and negative mood scales of the trait version of the State Trait--Depression Adjective Check Lists (D. Watson and others, 1988) were supported with 269 college students, 197 adolescents, and 165 older adults. Results provide evidence of the equivalence of the positive and negative scales. (SLD)

WISC-III IQs and subtest scaled scores of 440 students with specific learning disabilities were examined for gender differences. Boys exhibited statistically higher Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs than did girls, as well as higher scores on six of seven subtests. Girls outperformed boys only on the Coding subtest. (Author/CR)

Fifty adults with mild mental retardation and their staff in supported living residential settings were interviewed to examine the reliability of self-reports of social support compared with staff ratings. Self-report ratings had moderate internal consistency, were consistent across rating scales, and were significantly correlated with staff…

Argues that language tests employing methods not fair to all test takers are unethical. Ways of reducing sources of unfairness in language testing is discussed. (15 references) (Author/CK)

Evaluated five intelligence test instruments for use with Malaysian children: Raven's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), WISC-R, School Failure Tolerance (SFT), Scale for Rating Behavior Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS), and Parent Checklists. Found that Raven's SPM was an effective screening test, and the WISC-R the best measure to…

Some 1,620 Australian high school students responded to 68 items that measure adolescent stressors. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop and test a model leading to the High School Stressors Scale. This scale, which has sound construct and predictive validity and adequate reliability, can be a useful instrument for studying…

This article discusses evidence for functional behavioral assessment (FBA) procedures in terms of the meaning and interpretation of different forms of reliability and validity in FBA. It concludes that additional research needs to be conducted with various target behaviors across different settings to support the continued use of FBA. (Contains…

This study examines the reliability and validity of various behavior rating scales, side effects checklists, and an ecobehavioral observation system used to study self-injurious behavior among persons with mental retardation. Findings from testing with 30 adults suggest that further refinement is necessary to reliably and sensitively assess the…

An Australian study of 110 mother-infant dyads and 85 mother-toddler dyads in which the mothers were mentally ill evaluated the effectiveness of the Mother and Child Risk Observation (MACRO). Results found that MACRO offers a convenient framework for assessing risk and interpreting the impact of maternal mental illness upon children. (Author/CR)

A study of 943 personal narratives of students with deafness evaluated the effectiveness of the Six-Trait Analytical Scale in assessing student's writing. The scale was found to be reliable and valid in evaluating written narratives of students with and without hearing losses and is recommended as a valuable diagnostic instrument and instructional…

Increasingly neuropsychologists are under pressure, particularly in child custody and personal injury litigation, to justify the validity of the tests upon which their assessments are based. Reviews research on the validity of clinical opinions based on tests and concludes that test scores must be used in conjunction with life history and current…