Rasch and classical test analysis methods were compared with respect to their similarities and differences in the identification of noninformative items and implausible person records. Using computer simulated data with known parameters, each model was evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in: (1) identifying noninformative or "bad"…

An examination of typical situations concerning the status of a variable is followed by a discussion of the measurement and empirical problems involved in measuring current status. Arguments for more consideration of variability, particularly individual variation, are presented. Among the problems discussed are (1) describing large samples through…

A Conference Role Semantic Differential was developed and field-tested as a brief, diagnostic measure of conference role performance of administrators. Principal components analysis of 52 staff member's evaluations of three institutional researchers yielded one task and three interpersonal skill factors which demonstrated the construct validity of…

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Form M was constructed as a replacement for AFOQT Form L in Fiscal Year 1974. The new form serves the same purposes as its predecessor and possesses basically the same characteristics. It yields Pilot, Navigator-Technical, Officer Quality, Verbal, and Quantitative composite scores. Three sets of conversion…

This paper presents theory concerning the relationships between reliability, misinformation and item discrimination coefficients. It is shown that, to the extent that misinformation rather than ignorance causes examinees to miss multiple-choice items, higher item discrimination coefficients and lower difficulty indices may be expected. Data were…

This study was undertaken to determine reliability and validity estimates for a newly developed preschool inventory of cognitive functioning which provides many advantages over traditionally utilized measures. A predominantly pictorial stimulus-psychomotor response set was the format for the test. The test consisted of a series of 61 items divided…

This report summarizes the findings of Jackson and Lahadern who used a revised form of the Student Opinion Poll (SOP) and a questionnaire to study the intercorrelations of attitudes and achievement. The study found that: (1) first graders have attitudes toward school work but these attitudes were not differentiated toward specific school subjects;…

Based on the writings of Donald R. and William M. Hammerman, this inventory is divided into 3 parts. The first attempts to determine how well a teacher understands the term "outdoor education." The second asks the teacher's opinions, impressions, and attitudes toward outdoor education. Part three asks the teacher which objectives of an…

The Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test was developed to measure the extent to which individuals experience test anxiety. In at least two published studies, the authors claim to have used the test when in fact the response format was changed from that used in the original instrument and the "buffer" items were omitted. To investigate…

It was theorized that an answer-until-correct procedure, whereby an examinee marks responses to each multiple-choice question until feedback indicates that the correct answer has been marked, would yield scores of greater reliability and validity than conventional number-right procedure. Two papers and an application exercise for an undergraduate…

The Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) developed an instrument for rating the technical quality of television programs. The project was undertaken in conjunction with AEL's Home Oriented Preschool Education (HOPE) program, but sought to produce a generalizable instrument. The final instrument contained a category for judging overall program…

The recommended procedure for achievement test selection is presented. Following a review of some fundamental definitions of statistical properties of achievement tests (validity, reliability, and norms), major considerations to be applied in selecting achievement tests are discussed. These considerations are: (1) the characteristics of the school…

An introductory textbook on psychological tests and measurements is presented in paper back booklet form. The style is informal and humorous, and the book is intended to appeal to the contemporary student. Ten chapters constitute the text: (1) On Measurement and Existence; (2) A Brief, Imprecise History of Psychological Testing; (3) The Creation…

The purpose of this year-long study was to explore the effectiveness of the Trythall system of music dictation instruction (particularly Trythall's small-step, programmed method) in the training of aural skills--error detection, melodic dictation, rhythmic dictation, harmonic dictation, chord identification, and sight singing. For this study, the…

Two forms of the CEEB English Composition Test and four tests constructed by the University of Illinois Rhetoric department were compared as final examinations for the freshman English composition course. Results from 2545 students indicate that while the CEEB tests discriminate more between students and are more reliable, the departmental tests…