Research findings on the measurement of creativity in young children are reviewed, focusing on construct validity, relationship between response quality and quantity, and situational factors affecting scores. The article concludes that creativity is measurable in young children, but current methods rely on inappropriate unidimensional forms of…

This study examined bias in intelligibility judgments based on judges' personal familiarity with subjects. Four speech-delayed children (ages four and seven) were audiotaped at intervals during therapy, and intelligibility was assessed by their parents and unfamiliar adults. Mothers were significantly better at identifying words being spoken. An…

This study examined differences between Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) scores for 40 elementary students with learning disabilities. WISC-III Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance scores were lower than comparable WISC-R scores by one-third to one-half a…

An original study with a 96 percent questionnaire return rate and four replications with high return rates were compared in terms of populations sampled, implementation, and results. Future use of this procedure, which includes advance mailing, telephone contact, telephone explanations, and followups, is discussed. (SLD)

Educators who value student work that displays ingenuity and complexity must look beyond "standards" for evidence of achievement. Work of this kind requires exercise of critical judgment based on certain criteria. Applying criteria is a more complicated and intellectual enterprise than applying a standard. Developmental characteristics of…

The National Council on Standards and Testing's final report (1991) endorsed the concept of national education standards that reflect high expectations, provide focus, and embody a dynamic approach. Unresolved implementation difficulties include education system impact, improvement sequence, cost effectiveness, assessment purpose, multiple v.…

Counterbalancing the simplification of education caused by testing means relying on classroom teachers' conceptual powers. Classroom teaching is labor intensive and varies from room to room because diversity is the norm. Specifying standard academic skills and curriculum has not upgraded education. Children need opportunities to confront…

A framework is presented for implementing standardized achievement testing. Fundamental concepts and formats of the tests are reviewed, and useful references are listed. Standardized tests are considered and categorized in terms of administration format, functions, validity, and type (cognitive versus noncognitive). Thirteen basic recommendations…

The results of survey that found out how many of 269 engineering schools deliver accredited programs via television are discussed. Information about the technologies employed, the use of tutors in conjunction with videotaped courses, and logistics of exam monitoring and exam security is provided. A list of colleges offering televised engineering…

Improvements are made on previous estimates for the conditional standard error of measurement in prediction, the conditional standard error of estimation (CSEE), and the conditional standard error of prediction (CSEP). Better estimates of how test length affects CSEE and CSEP are derived. (SLD)

The following issues in psychological testing in Australia are reviewed: (1) commercialization of testing; (2) test user qualifications; and (3) computerization of testing. Proposed solutions include development of user guidelines, accreditation standards, test standards, and a network of test data information; and regulation by a professional…

Research on true-false (TF), multiple-choice, and alternate-choice (AC) tests is reviewed, discussing strengths, weaknesses, and the usefulness in classroom and large-scale testing of each. Recommendations are made for improving use of AC items to overcome some of the problems associated with TF items. (SLD)

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

The tendency of some respondents to omit items more often when they feel they have a less positive evaluation to make and less frequently when the evaluation is more positive is discussed. Five examples illustrate this form of nonresponse bias. Recommendations to overcome nonresponse bias are offered. (SLD)

Investigates whether the vocabulary of written comprehension questions is an independent factor in determining students' reading comprehension performance. Finds that academic vocabulary in comprehension questions significantly decreased question-answering performance. Computes simple, multiple, and semipartial correlations between vocabulary…