This study compared scores of 17 children with autism and mental retardation on the Psychoeducational Profile with scores on the Adolescent and Adult Psychoeducational Profile 5 years later. Eye-hand coordination predicted scores in vocational skills, independent functioning, and vocational behavior; imitation predicted interpersonal behavior;…

To investigate mistakes in the reporting of diagnostic efficiency statistics, all studies of the diagnostic performance of self-report scales in two psychological journals published between 1980 and 1991 were reviewed. Of 26 relevant studies, 9 had an error in calculation of diagnostic efficiency. Implications are discussed. (SLD)

Information on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was obtained for psychometric properties, gender differences, and relation to depression for 291 psychiatric patients with a subsample of 251 who completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Two demonstrated BAI factors are discussed, as are male-female differences and correlation with depression. (SLD)

One month test-retest reliability of the Revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) was examined in 88 methadone-maintained males, along with effects of increased information about patients on PCL-R scores and diagnostic derivations. Test-retest reliabilities are quite good. Other findings also confirm potential utility of the PCL-R for research. (SLD)

A general structural equation model for measuring residualized true change and studying patterns of true growth or decline is described. This approach allows consistent and efficient estimation of the degree of interrelationship between residualized change in a repeatedly assessed psychological construct and other variables. (SLD)

This study reports on the development and assessment of the psychometric properties of three measures to assess sexual knowledge, experience, feelings, and needs. Results demonstrate the good psychometric properties of the scales and their suitability for assessing these areas in people with disabilities. (Author/CR)

Presents the text of the American Psychological Association's Statement on the Disclosure of Test Data. Areas addressed by the statement include access to data; informing the test's taker of the purpose, use, and results; data dissemination; copyright interests; conforming to regulatory statutes and mandates; and the role of psychologists in…

In this study, Mexican American undergraduates (N=65) completed a battery of tests about counseling services, including the Expectations About Counseling-Brief Form B (EAC-B) and the Marlowe-Crown Social Desirability Scale-From XX. Analysis determined that significant counselor ethnicity and participant gender main and interaction effects on the…

Presents an overview of the major contemporary reference sources (print, online, and electronic) for scholarly information about psychological/educational tests. Stresses books and compendia that will assist reference librarians, and includes a compilation of texts that provide actual test items. Contains 53 references. (Author/LRW)

School social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors were surveyed. They reported the actual proportion of their professional time that they devoted and would ideally dedicate to each of 21 professional roles. They rated the appropriateness of each role for members of the three professions and indicated how often they felt…

People can use a variety of different strategies to perform tasks and these strategies all have two characteristics in common. First, they can be evaluated in comparison with either an absolute or a relative standard. Second, they can be used at varying levels of consistency. In the present article, the authors develop a general theory of task…

In this article, I describe a practical application of the Roussos and Stout (1996) multidimensional analysis framework for interpreting group performance differences on an ESL reading proficiency test. Although a variety of statistical methods have been developed for flagging test items that function differentially for equal ability examinees…

This study examined the use of neuropsychological tests to assist in the differential diagnosis of dementia among persons with mental retardation. The author compared performances of persons with mental retardation and dementia ("n" = 10) to persons with mental retardation without dementia ("n" = 12). Participants were matched by IQ (mild or…

The psychometric literature is replete with comprehensive discussions of test validity, test validation, and the characteristics of quality assessment programs. The most authoritative source for guidance regarding sound test development and evaluation practices is the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. However, the Standards are…

Many psychological tests have arbitrary metrics but are appropriate for testing psychological theories. Metric arbitrariness is a concern, however, when researchers wish to draw inferences about the true, absolute standing of a group or individual on the latent psychological dimension being measured. The authors illustrate this in the context of 2…