Background information about the first mathematics examinations given at Harvard in the academic year 1854-55 is given. The two instructors, Pierce and Eliot, responsible for the innovation are discussed. (MK)

Brantmeier [Brantmeier, C., 2006. "Advanced L2 learners and reading placement: self-assessment, computer-based testing, and subsequent performance." 'System 34" (1), 15-35] found that self-assessment (SA) of second language (L2) reading ability is not an accurate predictor for computer-based testing or subsequent classroom performance. With 359…

Most complex categories observed in real-world settings consist of perceptually disparate stimuli, such as a picture of a person's face, the person's name as written, and the same name as heard, as well as dimensional variants of some or all of these stimuli. The stimuli function as members of a single partially or fully elaborated generalized…

Advances in genetics and genomics have quickly led to clinical applications to human health which have far-reaching consequences at the individual and societal levels. These new technologies have allowed a better understanding of the genetic factors involved in a wide range of disorders. During the past decade, incredible progress has been made in…

We report three experiments that investigate whether faces are capable of capturing attention when in competition with other non-face objects. In Experiment 1a participants took longer to decide that an array of objects contained a butterfly target when a face appeared as one of the distracting items than when the face did not appear in the array.…

This paper offers a practical guide to use null hypotheses significance testing and its alternatives. The focus is on improving the quality of statistical inference in quantitative communication research. More consistent reporting of descriptive statistics, estimates of effect size, confidence intervals around effect sizes, and increasing the…

A prior experience of behavioral control over a stressor interferes with subsequent Pavlovian fear conditioning, and this effect is dependent on the activation of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFCv) at the time of the initial experience with control. It is unknown whether mPFCv activity is necessary during fear learning and/or testing for…

Today's psychological measurement depends almost exclusively on the "standardized test." A certain amount of non-standardization, however, exists in the administration of any standardized test, with the amount unknown for any given test score. Time limits on tests pose a bigger problem since another variable is introduced, pressure. Test taking…

The purpose of this pictorial practice Test is to prepare pre-primary and beginning first grade children who have not had experience with a group test to do tasks similar to those found on a regular test. The instructions for the practice test stress important cues and directions helpful during test administration, and include the entire dialogue…

Under positive referral conditions testers obtained higher IQ scores, rated the child more favorably on Factors Affecting Test Performance and made more favorable recommendations than under negative referral conditions, thus supporting the hypothesis that the referral agent does influence the testing situation. (Author)

To find the concurrent validity of two scholastic aptitude tests when a scholastic achievement test was used as a criterion for use in placement of mentally retarded children, 127 subjects were involved. The California Achievement Test (CAT) was used as a criterion measure, and the Primary Mental Abilities test (PMA) and the Slosson Intelligence…

Some of the benefits available from using computers to administer the kinds of tests that are familiar in educational settings are reviewed. Four applications that represent current or near-term enhancements of assessment are discussed: computerized adaptive testing, diagnostic testing, test preparation, and administration of simulations of…

In many of today's public school classrooms serving students from low-income and minority backgrounds, high-stakes standardized testing overwhelmingly drives both the explicit and implicit curricula. Accordingly, the lessons that children in these classrooms may learn about valid knowledge and knowers, collaboration, or personal and collective…

The Federal education policy No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has initiated high-stakes testing among U.S. public schools. The premise of the NCLB initiative is that all students reach proficiency in reading and math by 2014. Under NCLB, individual state education departments were required to implement annual assessments in grades two through eight…

In this study, the authors examined whether a test-enhanced learning program, integrated with daily classroom practices, is effective in a middle school setting. Specifically, they implemented and experimentally evaluated a test-enhanced learning program in 6th-8th grade Social Studies, English, Science, and Spanish classes. Although laboratory…