Condensed from "Memo to the Faculty , no. 35 (June 1969), a publication of the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

In two studies, selections of evaluation form items were negatively worded and presented before or after overall student ratings. Ratings of courses and instructors were not significantly affected by wording. Differences in the global assessment of the courses are discussed. (Author/CM)

Instructional programs organized according to modern educational technology are discussed within the purposes of criterion-referenced measurements used. The problems of criterion-referenced measurements include scoring and score interpretation, item and test analysis, and mastery testing. An overview of solutions and approaches to the problems and…

A set of 19 visual perceptual tasks was administered to six- to eight-year-old children, in order to differentiate three visual factors (visual synthesis, visual analysis, and perceptual speed) according to perceptual and conceptual complexity. The association between these perceptual measures, reading, and arithmetic was also assessed.…

The predictive validity of the Parent Guide to Quality Day Care Centers was studied in a second community by observing licensed day care centers prejudged as above- or below-average in services. Ninety-one of the items were reliably observed more frequently in above-average centers. (Author/CM)

A basic structure approach is proposed for obtaining multidimensional scale values for attitude, achievement, or personality items from response data. The technique permits the unconfounding of scale values due to response bias and content and partitions item indices of popularity or difficulty among a number of relevant dimensions. (Author/BH)

Describes a study to investigate attitudes of college-trained teacher-volunteers toward the Farmers' Functional Literacy Programme, part of the National Adult Education Programme in India. Item analysis of the attitude statements response indicated for the most part strongly favorable attitudes toward the program to educate farmers in improved…

The advantages of using psychometric thoery to design short forms of intelligence tests are demonstrated by comparing such usage to a systematic random procedure that has previously been used. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revised (WISC-R) Short Form is presented as an example. (JKS)

In a replication of an earlier study, a questionnaire with items lacking content and merely containing answer possibilities was administered to a sample of Dutch freshmen psychology students. Subjects showed a preference for positive options over negative options. (Author/JKS)

Individuals, randomly selected from important but diverse community and school groups, rated the tasks tested and the items used in the Mathematical Tests of the Australian Studies in School Performance. For tasks at the basic numeracy level, disagreement was generally insignificant. (Author/SJL)

Argues that using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale outside the standard hospital setting introduces variations in the physical and social context that influence scores on some of the behavioral items. (Author/BH)

The issues of culture-free and culture-fair tests for elementary school children are explored by examining specific tests and the testing situation. Investigators examined the problem of group intelligence testing vs. individual testing and conclude that tests still reflect White American middle socioeconomic class values and experiences. (HS)

The study describes the implementation of three related suggestions for the development of items for a course evaluation form. High degrees of consistency were evidenced in preferences of students, faculty, and individuals from different academic areas. Significant differences were obtained between student and faculty responses and the basic…

Reviews current and developing technology uses that are relevant to language assessment and discusses examples of recent linguistic applications from the laboratory at the Educational Testing Service. The processes of language test development are described and the functions they serve from the perspective of a large testing organization are…

Presents a validation study on the Hausa Speaking Test (HAST), a simulated oral proficiency interview. Addressed validity of the HaST through examination of the ratability on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale of elicited speech sample and an investigation of the nature of probes on the HaST through speaking…