Factor analysis was used to investigate constructs underlying performance in a biology examination supporting an hypothesis suggesting that the constructs were related to knowledge (rather than other levels of Bloom's taxonomy) of topics. Indicates that the method provides a means of identifying what examination items test. (Author/JN)

The structure of the Group Embedded-Figures Test was examined. Data from 173 females and 93 males were subjected to Johnson's complete-linkage cluster analysis and principal components analysis. The results showed the importance of simple form type, especially Form E, the cube, and of item position. (Author/RD)

Describes a method for increasing efficiency of examination production which uses file cards to store and organize test items. The process of reproducing tests directly from master copies made with file cards is discussed. (AM)

The Serlin-Kaiser procedure is used to complete a principal components solution for scoring weights for all options of a given item. Coefficient alpha is maximized for a given multiple choice test. (Author/GK)

Content analyzed four personality inventories, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, California Personality Inventory, and Edwards Personality Preference Schedule to determine whether each item in the four inventories contained situational, temporal, or comparative information. Wide differences appeared…

Different indices for the internal consistency, reproducibility, or homogeneity of a test are based upon highly similar conceptual frameworks. Illustrations are presented to demonstrate how the maximum and minimum values of KR20 are influenced by test difficulty and the shape of the distribution of test scores. (Author/CTM)

Relative difficulty of Separate (Form S) and Grouped (Form G) True-False tests may be expected to be dependent on the ability levels of examinees. At some levels Form S should be less difficult, at others equally difficult, and at still others, more difficult, than Form G. (Author/RL)

The variety of hand grips of 12 children, most of whom were moderately or severely retarded, were classified in order to begin an analysis of hand function. Test reliability was not as great when items were presented to the children as compared to when children were observed or rated by videotape. (FG)

Obvious items were good predictors of all criteria; neutral items overlapped considerably with obvious items; and subtle items generally did not contribute uniquely to the prediction of any of the concurrent measures of depression. (Author)

A sampling methodology is proposed for determining lengths of tests designed to assess the comprehension of written discourse. It is based on Bormuth's transformational analysis, within a domain-referenced framework. Guidelines are provided for computing sample size and selecting sentences to which the transformational rules can be applied.…

A follow-up technique is needed to identify items contributing to items-by-groups interaction when using an ANOVA procedure to examine a test for biased items. The method described includes distribution theory for assessing level of significance and is sensitive to items at all difficulty levels. (Author/GSK)

The facility index of a test item is the percentage of testees choosing the correct response. A common curriculum model presents process and content as two dimensions of the difficulty of an educational task. Wheeler suggested a third dimension: precision. This three-dimensional model is applied to chemistry education. (BW)

Methodological issues are illuminated by reference to analyses of environment data. Analyses include clustering techniques applied at the item level instead of the conventional scale level. Clusters derived using different units of analysis (namely, between and pooled within) are compared and contrasted. (RL)

A theory and a procedure are presented for estimating a domain parameter and item parameters for test items in a homogeneous domain, such that the combined domain and item parameters account for observed proportions right for each item in a test. (CTM)

Some background information is given about the GRE. A detailed account of its construction, its recent history, and some of the thinking that has gone into it is related. (MP)