Because of the recent popularity of the three-parameter logistic model among the researchers who apply latent trait theory, it will be worthwhile to investigate the effect of noise accommodated in different models. In the present paper, four types of models on the dichotomous response level, Types A, B, C and D, are considered. Type A does not…

Students' test scores are influenced by their subject matter knowledge, their physical and emotional health, and their skill in the mechanics of test taking. Designed for use in the Detroit (Michigan) Public Schools, this document focuses on improving skills in the mechanics of test taking. The first section overviews strategies for…

A project was conducted to develop a valid, competency-referenced test on the core competencies identified for the Missouri Fundamentals of Marketing curriculum. During the project: (1) multiple-choice test items based on the core competencies in the Fundamentals of Marketing curriculum were developed; (2) instructions for onsite administration of…

The effect of dimensionality on an adaptive test's ability estimation was examined. Two-dimensional data sets, which differed from one another in the interdimensional ability association, the correlation among the difficulty parameters, and whether the item discriminations were or were not confounded with item difficulty, were generated for 1,600…

This grade 12 Diploma Examination for Alberta (Canada) Social Studies 30 booklet is divided in two parts. Part A consists of 70 multiple-choice questions worth 70 percent of the total score. Part B consists of the written response section worth 30 percent of the total. The student must choose one of two topics for the essay. The essay scores are…

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information about the Alberta (Canada) Grade 3 Social Studies Achievement Test. The Bulletin includes a general description of the Achievement Testing Program, a description of the Grade 3 Social Studies Achievement Test, an outline of the objectives to be tested, and the test blueprint. Student…

Although there are many advantages to using computer-based tests (CBTs) linked to computer-based instruction (CBI), there are also several difficulties. In certain instructional settings, it is difficult to conduct psychometric analyses of test results. Several measurement issues surface when CBT programs are linked to CBI. Testing guidelines…

Extensive research efforts in the past decade have measured academic proficiency and progress in both theory and practice of large-scale writing assessment. The following major situational variables were identified in these investigations: (1) topic variables such as writing prompts, subject matter, mode of discourse, length, and rhetorical…

This bulletin provides a general description of Alberta's Grade 6 Science Achievement Test which was taken in June 1986. Discussed in this document are: (1) the purpose of the testing program; (2) the nature of the program; (3) students tested (addressing concerns related to exceptions and instruction); (4) administrative regulations; (5)…

This is the final test for students in the twelfth-grade course Mathematics 30, offered in schools in Alberta, Canada. Intended for administration in January 1987, it is available in both English and French. It contains 52 multiple-choice questions and 3 written-response problems, with 2.5 hours allowed for completion. Approved calculators may be…

The Semantic Relation Test (SRT) was administered to 83 undergraduate students at Hamilton College (New York) to test the extent of subjects' knowledge of different relationships between word pairs. The 60 analogy items covered five categories of relationships: antonyms, case relations, class inclusion, part-whole relations, and similars. Three…

Because the science of nursing is still at an early stage of development, nurses involved in clinical research often find that no appropriate measures are available to sample the theoretical construct of interest. Researchers often must design and test new instruments before proceeding to test theory. A study of the effect of nurse-client…

This study investigated the merit of using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (P-HCSCS) for the purpose for which it was designed. The study originally planned to obtain information on the relationship of self-concept to reading achievement. Initial findings demonstrated an inconsistency in attitude in 59 of the 64 participating third…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that large within-examinee item difficulty variability had on estimates of the proportion of consistent classification of examinees into mastery categories over two test administrations. The classification consistency estimate was based on a single test administration from an estimation procedure…

In this paper 45 item-writing rules for multiple-choice tests presented in textbooks on educational measurement in a previous study are identified. The current study presents a quantitative review of the literature with respect to the empirical and theoretical evaluation of these principles of item-writing. Fifty-six studies that addressed at…