The literature on criterion referenced testing is full of discussions concerning whether classical measurement techniques are appropriate, whether variance is necessary, whether new indices of reliability are needed, and the like. What appears to be lacking, however, is a clear and simple discussion of why the problems occur. This paper suggests…

In this paper, an attempt has been made to synthesize some of the current thinking in the area of criterion-referenced testing as well as to provide the beginning of an integration of theory and method for such testing. Since criterion-referenced testing is viewed from a decision-theoretic point of view, approaches to reliability and validity…

This article presents views of proponents and opponents to standardized tests, isolates the major weakness of testing--questionable validity--and offers several recommendations for the betterment of test development and use. Some major misuses of tests include the following: (a) tests are at times administered with no clear purpose; (b) test…

The Phase 2 effort of a task to develop a new student critique form for the Air Training Command (ATC) is described. Phase 1 recommended the further development of group specific norms for officers, NCOs, and airmen enrolled in technical training schools. In Phase 2 additional items were added to the prototype form resulting in a later version of…

A longitudinal study was undertaken to determine whether measures that are readily available in most school districts, administered in kindergarten by classroom teachers, could predict reading achievement as measured by standardized tests in grades 1 through 4. The subjects were 553 children in the kindergarten class of 1964-65 in Ithaca, New…

An item analysis of the Stanford Achievement Test performance of about 12,000 students in schools and classes for the hearing impaired is presented. Tables show the percentage of correct answers to each question, as well as a summary of the responses for each sub-test and major categories within some sub-tests. Because the test was developed for…

The objective of the inquiry was to develop a psychological instrument for use in assessing the attitudes held by secondary school and college students. For reliability purposes, it was deemed that a minimum of 30 or more semantic scales, used as individual items would be essential. A seven position ordinal scale was interposed between each pair…

An experimental test for achievement motivation which consists of 100 pictures of imaginary figures called gumpgookies was tested on Head Start children. On each picture, two gumpgookies are presented in a semi-structured situation, each engaged in behaviors that reflect different degrees of motivation to achieve. The child being tested is asked…

The assumptions of the classical test-theory model are used to develop a theory of reliability for criterion-referenced measures which parallels that for norm-referenced measures. It is shown that the Spearman-Brown formula holds for criterion-referenced measures and that the criterion-referenced reliability coefficient can be used to correct…

More suitable criteria was needed to evaluate "mature" students or those over 21 who had not completed all senior matriculation requirements for admission to the University of Lethbridge. This study was designed to compare the performance of "mature" students and several groups of regularly admitted freshmen on the College…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the academic achievement scale (AACH) which is an index of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB). Subjects were 149 male and female students who requested help in decision making. All subjects had taken the American College Testing program examination (ACT) and the SVIB. Grade point…

This study analyzes the Object Categorization Test (OCT) and the Picture Categorization Test (PCT) to provide (1) psychometric analysis of the tests, (2) substantive analysis detailing variation in performance level as a function of age, race, class, and sex, and (3) normative data yielding frequencies of various score patterns. Data was taken…

Four selected scales from the Learning Environment Inventory (LEI) were rewritten to measure the students' individual perceptions of their classroom environment, rather than their estimates of the opinions of the class as a whole. Both scales were then administered to 10 7th grade math classes and 4 10th grade social studies classes. The rewritten…

Many self-concept measures employ several different scales to which the subject responds in a set order at one sitting. This study examined the effects of different testing conditions on such scales. Bill's Index of Adjustment and Values was administered to 191 graduate students under two different sequences, and two time delay conditions. The…

A potentially valuable measure of overconfidence on probabilistic multiple-choice tests was evaluated. The measure of overconfidence was based on probabilistic responses to nonsense items embedded in a vocabulary test. The test was administered under both confidence response and conventional choice response directions to 208 undergraduate…