Either positive or negative test instructions and two item types (attitude or personality) were administered to undergraduates. Students were more likely to respond true when receiving positive instructions. Students receiving attitude test instructions were not more likely to respond true than students receiving personality test instructions.…

The microcomputer version of the Ohio Vocational Interest Survey (OVIS II) differs from the machine-scored version in its ability to incorporate data from the OVIS II:Career Planner in its printed report. It differs from the hand-scored version in its ability to include data from the OVIS II:Work Characteristic Analysis in its printed report.…

Performances of 64 sixth-grade readers on a traditional and three alternative types of cloze tests were compared. Results confirm and extend the findings of earlier studies investigating cloze alternatives. Advantages of the alternate forms are discussed. (Author/MT)

Take-home examinations were compared with in-class examinations to determine which was a more effective learning vehicle. Results suggest that in-class examinations produce a greater amount of study and learning by college students. (Author/DF)

Suggestions for software design in computer managed testing (CMT) cover instructions to testees, their physical format, provision of practice items, and time limit information; test item presentation, physical format, discussion of task demands, review capabilities, and rate of presentation; pedagogically helpful utilities; typefonts; vocabulary;…

Students of varying achievement levels were tested to determine the relationship between proofreading standardized test and written spelling test scores and to find if significant differences exist between mean scores of the two tests. Proofreading tests seem to be justified when information on spelling ability in general is desired. (Author/DF)

These guidelines address methods for administering Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) assessments using accommodations for learners with documented disabilities. The suggested accommodations for disability categories include provisions for: (1) Accommodations in test administration procedures; and (2) Use of appropriate CASAS…

The use of grid-in formats, such as those requiring students to solve problems and fill in bubbles, is common on large-scale standardized assessments, but little is known about the use of this format with a more general population of students than high school students taking college entrance examinations, including those attending public schools…

For a growing number of test translations, there is a need for equating that provides scores that can be used interchangeably for both source- and target-language forms, but basic equating requirements cannot usually be met in the cross-lingual case. The situation is more problematic in verbal tests, where translation has more impact on item…

Designed to provide an experience as close as possible to the actual assessment, this paper presents the revised model of assessment in reading for the Michigan High School Test (HST). The revisions incorporated into the paper reflect the testing transition from the High School Proficiency Test to the HST. The first part of the paper presents…

Using an index of answer copying developed by Houston, it was found that rearranged questions alone did not reduce answer copying, whereas rearrangement of both questions and answers effectively eliminated detectable cheating. (Author)

Formulas for estimating the validity of random short forms were applied to the standardization data for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. These formulas demonstrated how much "better than random" the best short forms of these…

Argues that multiple choice tests can be effective only if the items are written in a format suitable for testing the mastery of specific instructional objectives. Proposes the use of nonrestrictive test items and cites examples of such items. (FL)

Reviews four standardized tests geared to helping development educators in placing students in courses and assessing their learning levels: the Davis Reading Test; the Descriptive Tests of Language Skills; the Descriptive Tests of Mathematics Skills; and the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. (CAM)

This study provides support for the hypothesized effect of leniency on the discriminant validity of grouped questionnaire items. It was found that controlling for leniency resulted in a slight decrement in convergent validity but that discriminant validity was substantially improved. Implications for questionnaire validity and further research are…