This report reviews the results of the Australian Surveys of Primary School Achievement given every five years from 1955 to 1970. It compares results of the tests and explains why the survey was discontinued in 1975. Subjects were approximately 1,000 fifth-grade and 1,000 seventh-grade students selected as a representative sample of Australian…

Chapter 3 of the State School Aid Act was enacted to improve achievement in the basic cognitive skills of low-achieving puPils in Michigan. The program provided funds and considerable program discretion for local school districts with high concentration of low achieving children in the grades K-6. These districts received funds for a three-year…

In an effort to meet the needs of a wider range of abilities in sixth-form students in England, their major and minor studies were combined with a program of general studies in curriculum working toward a Certificate of Extended Education (CEE). In summer 1974, the CEE experimental testing program was offered to students in the sixth form,…

Final course grade expectations of students in two models of instruction (mastery and nonmastery) were investigated. The intent of the study was to examine expectations between groups and to analyze within-mastery effects on self-perception of performance. Using preinstruction grade expectation, postinstruction grade expectation, Grade Point…

Criterion-referenced testing is defined and some of its background is discussed. A distinction is made between criterion-referenced scores, norm-referenced scores, cut-off scores, criterion scores, criterion variables, and content-standard scores. The relationship between norm-referenced information and criterion-referenced information is…

This paper discusses criterion referenced tests' characteristics and their use in clinical evaluation. The distinction between diagnostic tests and criterion referenced measures is largely a matter of emphasis. Some authorities believe that in diagnostic testing the emphasis is upon an evaluation of an individual's strengths and weaknesses in…

Reading specialists have often expressed dissatisfaction with standardized reading tests, especially tests of rate. In this study, norm-referenced survey tests were constructed for measuring reading comprehension and rate of fifth and seventh grade students. Three alternate forms were developed from item analyses with a trial sample of 88 fifth…

Test items for the introduction to psychology and leadership course (see the final reports which summarize the course development project, EM 010 418, EM 010 419, and EM 010 484) which were compiled as part of the project documentation and which are coordinated with the text-workbook on discipline (EM 010 441, EM 010 442, EM 010 470, EM 010 471…

Instructional improvement within the context of criterion-referenced and norm-referenced tests is described. Such categories overemphasize test interpretation rather than design characteristics of achievement tests. Data from most measurement situations may be reported or interpreted either according to criterion- or norm-referenced standards. How…

This bibliography lists selected articles, research reports, monographs, books, and reference works related to criterion-referenced measurement. It is limited primarily to material which deals directly with criterion-referenced tests and testing procedures, and includes reports on computer-assisted test construction and the adaptation of…

The problem of evaluating school progress and its programs has recently been the topic of much research and discussion. The Center for the Study of Evaluation confronted this problem and produced the CSE Elementary School Evaluation KIT: Needs Assessment as a partial solution (see ED 058 673.) Within the framework of the KIT, the need for school…

Scores of high school students responding to the same biology cognitive preference test using both normative and ipsative procedures were compared. All subtests, whether ipsative or normative, had high alpha Cronbach coefficients. A number of similarities were found in the mean scores obtained by the two procedures, as well as moderate positive…

A set of developmental norm data for reflexive and voluntary visual-motor development was compiled, revised after extensive clinical use, and found to have highly significant interrater agreement. Use of the resultant Erhardt Developmental Visual Assessment is illustrated with a multiply handicapped three-year-old. (Author/JDD)

This study investigated the motivational and performance consequences of two features of task-mastery learning structures: retesting opportunities and criterion-referenced grading. College students were assigned either to a norm-referenced (competitive) or a criterion-referenced grading system, and to either a single-test or retest condition.…

This review highlights issues in functional outcome assessment and describes educationally based functional outcome measures applicable to students with severe disabilities. Specific norm-referenced and criterion-referenced instruments are reviewed for their usefulness in describing functional independence and functional challenges across…