Examined the discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, and between-spouse agreement for a marital intake interview as a function of interview method and valence of interview items. Results suggested a high degree of discriminant validity, higher interspouse correlations during joint interviews, and higher indices of criterion related…

Two forms of an undergraduate examination were constructed. Tests varied with respect to item truth value (true, false) and method of phrasing (positive, negative). Negatively stated items were more difficult but not more discriminating than positively stated items. False items were not more difficult but were more discriminating than true items.…

Ten item discrimination indices, across a variety of item analysis situations, were compared, based on the validities of tests constructed by using each of the indices to select 40 items from a 100-item pool. Item score data were generated by a computer program and included a simulation of guessing. (Author/CTM)

The present study compared six methods, two of which utilize the content structure of items, to estimate total-test scores using 450 students and 60 items of the 110-item Stanford Mental Arithmetic Test. Three methods yielded fairly good estimates of the total-test score. (Author/RL)

Social and naturally occurring choice phenomena are often of the "pick any" type in which the number of choices made by a subject as well as the set of alternatives from which they are chosen is unconstrained. A model and scaling method for these data are introduced. (Author/JKS)

Examined cultural bias of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) for Anglo-American, Black, and Mexican American children. Minority children responded in the same way as Anglo-American children. No clear pattern to items on the test that were more difficult for minority children appeared. The WISC-R appears to be nonbiased.…

Findings indicated that the judges were not able to determine accurately which items were more difficult for minority students and that there was no significant difference in accuracy between judges of the different ethnic backgrounds. (Author)

Hierarchical cluster analysis is shown to be an effective method for forming scales from sets of items. Comparisons with factor analytic techniques suggest that hierarchical analysis is superior in some respects for scale construction. (Author/JKS)

Secondary analysis of data originally collected to determine attitudes and behavior in dental health assesses the differences in amount of health knowledge possessed by Anglos and Chicanos in the El Paso, Texas, area. (JMF)

Indices of item difficulty and item discrimination were analyzed for the items comprising the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised as obtained from a group of 142 subjects with Full Scale IQs below 96. Evidence indicates increase in the number of items on the WISC-R helped increase its internal validity. (Author)

Results of assigning Holland codes to items seems reasonable, and the codes may be used in future item pool revisions to balance item content, to eliminate poorly defined items, and to select items that are perceived identically by females and males. (Author)

This study compares the ability of 2 item-selection methodologies, principal components analysis and intervention item selection rules, to capture client changes on a 56-item self-report checklist. Scales formed with the intervention-sensitive items evidence larger effect sizes and reliability estimates. (Contains 26 references and 3 tables.)…

Describes the methodology of an adaptation and validation of measurement instruments dealing with stress and problem-solving ability in student teachers, including the psychometric characteristics of the indicators. (EV)

Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire with a "don't know" response added was administered to 202 undergraduates (half using the new format), 44 undergraduates (with instruction on memory and aging), and 49 older and 41 younger adults. The new format resulted in more correct answers. Instruction resulted in fewer "don't know" responses. Younger…

Presents an empirical examination of the effectiveness of free response items in comparison with multiple choice items. Uses Item Response Theory (IRT) framework and shows that free response items were appropriate for students with high science ability. Reports that free response items estimated students' science ability more accurately than…