Reviews materials in the ERIC data base that can be used to teach students test-wiseness skills such as cue- using strategies, time using, error avoidance, guessing, deductive reasoning, answering analogies, and answering multiple choice questions. (MKM)

In this study with bilingual Chinese college students, faster subjects in a word-judging task had lower Raven's Progressive Matrices scores. The distinction between test response time and actual mental speed as a correlate of intelligence is discussed. (Author/SJL)

Illustrates how multidimensional scaling (MDS) and differential item functioning (DIF) procedures can be used to evaluate the equivalence of different language versions of an examination. Presents examples of structural differences and DIF across languages. (SLD)

Used Rasch measurement to study the psychometric properties of data obtained from a newly developed Diabetes Questionnaire designed to measure diabetes knowledge, attitudes, and self-care. Responses of 26 diabetes patients to the English version of the questionnaire and 24 patients to the Spanish version support the cross-form equivalence and…

Of four groups of medical-surgical nurses, 55 took one final and three midterm written exams, 150 took one each (written), 45 took an oral final, 92 took both written and oral, and 47 took a written test with licensure questions and an oral final. Oral exams resulted in higher scores, more effective study habits, and increased application. (SK)

Discusses ways of designing a review for a test, or a test itself, as a treasure hunt. Offers suggestions for how to set up the game. Presents 10 sample clues for a grammar test and 10 sample clues for a literature test. (RS)

Administered Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) to 112 elementary school students in computer-automated and standard formats to investigate comparability of test results. Correlations found between standard and modified versions were positive, substantial, and acceptable for clinical use. Considers usefulness of adapted psychological…

The psychometric properties of the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire-Revised (CASQ) (N. Kaslow and S. Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991) were studied with 1086 children, 9 to 12 years old. Results indicate the revised version to be somewhat less reliable than the original, but with equivalent criterion-related validity for self-reported depression.…

Administered 12 psychological and 7 neurobehavioral performance tests twice to nonclinical normative samples of 30 adults (computer format only) and 30 adults (computer and conventional administration) with one week between administrations. Results suggest that individual test-retest reliability is not affected when tests are administered as part…

Studied the factor structure of the Need for Cognition Scale (NFC) (J. Cohen, E. Scotland, and D. Wolfe, 1955) (short form) with samples of 510 and 697 Australian adults. Results support the use of the short version of the NFC with Australian samples. (SLD)

Describes and evaluates a "controlled assessment procedure" as a holistic approach to avoiding problems of administering and evaluating traditional exams. Key characteristics include: the question is known well in advance and is broad and open-ended, students are encouraged to respond in any self-selected written format, and the rationale and…

Discusses the implementation of theme-based exams in a one semester, advanced-level general chemistry course for physical science and engineering majors. Presents an example of a theme-based exam given at the beginning of the semester. (Author/CCM)

Students in a computer technology course completed either a paper-and-pencil test (n=40) or an online test in a proctored computer lab (n=43). Test scores were equivalent, but the online group, particularly freshmen, completed the test in less time. Online testing time did not correlate with test score. (Contains 30 references.) (SK)

A multiple-form structure (MFS) is an ordered collection or network of testlets (i.e., sets of items). An examinee's progression through the network of testlets is dictated by the correctness of an examinee's answers, thereby adapting the test to his or her trait level. The collection of paths through the network yields the set of all possible…

A trial of pen-and-paper and online modes of a computing skills test was conducted for volunteer students of ages 15-16 in New South Wales, Australia. The tests comprised Matching, True/False and 4-option Multiple-Choice items. The aims were to determine whether gender, socio economic status (SES), or the type of item interacted with testing mode.…