Review and examination of the current literature on reference interview evaluation explores the degree to which such evaluative practices are both desirable and achievable. It is concluded that, if both quantitative and qualitative techniques are appropriately used, accurate mechanisms of evaluation are possible and desirable. (17 references) (LRW)

Summarizes educators' and researchers' concerns regarding the use and misuse of standardized reading tests. Suggests a different model for reading assessment. (RS)

Reviews historical and current problems with making accurate psychological diagnoses of African Americans. Suggests that misdiagnosis is strongly related to pathologization of African-American culture itself. Explores diagnostic process, stereotypes of African-American psychopathology, cultural differences in values and life stressors, and…

Reviewed 65 reports, dated 1986 through 1990, focusing on college student alcohol consumption patterns. Review shows that shortcomings in research design, analysis, and presentation of results make it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the present nature and problem of college student drinking. (Author/NB)

Maintains that a fresh perspective is needed on secondary reading assessment. Discusses several factors that should be, but are not, included in secondary reading assessment, and describes barriers to advances in such assessment. (SR)

Discusses the need to evaluate the effectiveness of games and simulations that are used for training and educational purposes. Evaluation criteria are described, including validity, reliability, and utility; methods of measuring training device effectiveness are explained; and problems encountered with evaluations are discussed. (30 references)…

Presents results of a survey of screening and risk assessment policies in child protective services (CPS) in 100 counties in 8 states. Findings reveal mixed practices and a general lack of evaluation of developed systems. (NH)

The validity of true experiments is threatened by a class of self-report biases that affect all respondents at pretest, but which are diminished by treatment. Four of these inaccurate self-evaluation biases are discussed. Means of detection include external criteria, special conditions of measurement, and retrospective pretests. (TJH)

Evaluation utilization problems encountered and remedial strategies are discussed by a director of several government evaluation studies and evaluation manager. Political and behavioral prerequisites to evaluation utilization as well as on-going organizational requirements are emphasized. (TJH)

Responds to Fong and Amatea's (1992) study of work stress exhibited by 141 academically employed women. Notes that, although it was found that single women had significantly higher levels of stress than did married-parent women, there are problems with definitions, sampling, assessment, and statistics that pose threats to both internal and…

Presents findings suggesting that misdiagnoses frequently stem from flaws in human information processing, particularly in collecting and using information. Claims that improved diagnostic tools will not remedy the problem. Drawing on the work of Karl Popper and Robin Collingwood, proposes operational principles to ensure a rational diagnostic…

Given technology's potentially negative effects on creativity, educators must examine the Internet's capabilities and best uses in the main office, school, and classroom. To locate superior Web sites, teachers should identify sponsors' affiliations, examine content, scrutinize ratings and awards, check listed references, and gather multiple…

Presents findings from an evaluation of an entrepreneurship and community economic-development initiative in three Chicago (Illinois) public high schools. Two schools were quite satisfied with the program's implementation, but it was difficult to document improvements in student outcomes. Discusses difficulties in evaluating this type of project.…

A study involving three individuals (ages 13-20) with developmental disabilities and problem behaviors examined the influential role that unanticipated idiosyncratic stimulus variables play in affecting the outcome of a functional analysis. Guidelines are discussed concerning when to suspect that idiosyncratic stimuli might be acting to influence…

Predictive evaluation of educational software is problematic because such instructional materials should be evaluated only setting by setting. A situated approach suggests that appropriate evaluation can be performed by considering interactions between the three principal actors in the development and use of the software: teacher, designer, and…