Evaluation of the cumulative files of 143 severely disabled students (ages 6 to 20 years) in five school districts indicated: (1) a lack of appropriate technically adequate norm-referenced tests, (2) technical adequacy not a major determinant in test selection, and (3) less frequent use (than expected) of criterion-referenced and adaptive behavior…

This study describes the development and application of a needs assessment measure used to evaluate two inservice courses for Israeli mathematics teachers. Reliability and validity checks are presented through factor analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficents, and comparing instrument results with teachers' written comments. (BS)

Suggests that Likert ratings and semantic differentials differ in sensitivity to personal experience with the aged, that therapists had more positive beliefs about the elderly than did college students, and that therapist attitudes were not correlated with either proportion of elderly clients seen or desire to work with elderly. (Author/ABB)

The performance of disabled and non-disabled students on college admissions test were compared. Performance of learning disabled and hearing impaired students appears most discrepant from the norm. Evidence relating to validity and reliability of admissions tests for handicapped and nondisabled examinees suggests no dependable differences in…

Describes the development of the Perceived Well-Being Scale (PWB), which allows for separate assessment of psychological and physical well-being. Several studies bearing on the psychometric properties and usefulness of the PWB are presented and the implications of the findings are discussed. (Author/CT)

Reviews bases for contemporary discontinuity theories of mental development, presents findings that support alternative proposition of continuity and scrutinizes assessment methods from which these continuity results derive. Also offers several models that help explain the continuity findings, and argues that individual differences in mental…

Reviews the Curriculum Referenced Tests of Mastery that are intended to measure achievement, with the emphasis on measuring what a student has learned rather than predicting future success in school, concluding that the tests are worthy of consideration by any district. (HOD)

The Learning Efficiency Test (LET) assesses a subject's learning modality preference. The reviewer cites the instrument's problems with reliability, diagnostic validity, and predictive validity. The need for better documentation of the test's validity and reliability is suggested. (DWH)

A reliable measure of knowledge of social work facts and practice concepts in the areas of policy, administration, research, and evaluation is described, including the process of item development and selection, assessment of content validity, test administration, scoring, applications for individual educational planning, and use in program…

Concludes that the test represents a carefully designed, standardized, norm referenced instrument for children aged 6 to 14.(FL)

Can students' writing ability really be assessed by standardized, objective tests? This question is explored here along with a discussion of the alternatives and advice for principals to help their English and language arts teachers confront the issue. (Author/TE)

Concludes that the PDIL (the Spanish version of the Test of Early Language Development) should be used with caution. Since its reliability and validity were determined with the English language version, the method used to translate test items may have some ambiguities, and some illustrations on picture cards may not be culturally appropriate for…

The responses of 205 regular classroom teaches to the Rucker-Gable Educational Programming Scale were factor analyzed. Results indicated that the instrument measures four dimensions, accounting for only 42 percent of the total variance. Estimates of internal consistency for the scores and subscores were also modest. (Author/BW)

This document examines the concepts of validity, reliability, and appropriateness from a language testing perspective as they apply to the following four assessment issues raised by the National Reporting System (NRS): (1) What type of language assessment seems to be required by the NRS: proficiency or achievement?; (2) Knowing that the NRS…

This study attempted to develop a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the diagnostic and remedial capacity of primary schools and to apply this instrument in examining how special needs services are provided in ordinary primary schools in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. The study's conceptual model was based on two clusters--the key…