The use of the family history chart and the "Binet-Simon Scale" to study mental retardation in the early 20th century are considered, along with the implications of this practice. With the thesis that mental retardation was primarily familial and hereditary, limiting reproduction and segregation were viewed as appropriate approaches.…

States that the correlation between social desirability (SD) and hopelessness is open to several interpretations, but, in the absence of further data, concern for false-negative rates dictates caution in interpreting hopelessness scores when assessing suicidal behavior. Presents data on the relationship of SD, hopelessness, and prediction of…

Describes how black scholars countered racist conclusions from mental test data and highlights the black critique by focusing upon the decade when the nature/nurture controversy was at its zenith. The paradox of blacks' simultaneous critique and use of mental tests is explored in relationship to problems raised in the sociology of knowledge. (RH)

Compared the behavioral correlates of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 4-3 high-point pair and the Overcontrolled-Hostility scale in a sample of university psychology clinic outpatients (N=97). Behavioral correlates of two groups of outpatients were more similar to each other than they were to the group of outpatient controls.…

Examined the hypothesis that deficits in interpersonal and problem-solving skills are significantly related to nonclinical depression. A behavioral role-playing measure of competence in male college students--the Problem Inventory for College Students--was developed and tested. Results provided partial support for the hypothesized relationship…

Describes the construction of an instrument to measure identity, primarily based on Chickering's approach, i.e., the Erwin Identity Scale (EIS), designed to measure the three main concepts comprising identity: confidence, sexual identity, and conceptions about body and appearance. (Author)

The Draw-a-Person Test was individually administered to 120 kindergartners (ages 4 to 7) in order to validate and expand R. Goldman and D. Warren's earlier work (1976) on the development of a rational scale for use as a kindergarten screening measure. (Author/PHR)

The article contrasts North American and Soviet views and approaches to student evaluations, especially in the area of testing differences in academic achievement. It provides a brief summary of Soviet schooling and evaluative procedures. (Author/SB)

A study was conducted to ascertain whether use of an interpreter and/or a regular examiner in administering the WISC would affect test results of a group of Mexican-American children. Spanish administration of some scales of the performance test are likely to elicit optimum performance. (Author)

Investigates the significance of social and environmental factors as predictors of the rehabilitative potential of an inmate. Work history must be used as a whole. The more recent a good history, the more successful an inmate's jail record. Work factors may aid in selecting narcotics-addicted inmates for work-release programs. (Author/BEF)

In a recent article in this journal (EJ 130 391) Siegel and Bergman described a "miniature job training and evaluation" approach to performance prediction. This research highlights their methodology's strengths and weaknesses in light of standard procedures recommended in developing any set of predictors. (Author/RK)

Navy enlisted personnel (N=60) were administered the Recall scale of the Kahn Intelligence Test (Experimental Form; KIT) and the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Scores for the KIT tasks indicate a significant transfer of data to long-term memory. (Author)

The hypothesis that alpha brain wave biofeedback training elevates mood was tested. Three groups of eight naive subjects each were formed: Group 1 underwent training, Group 2 kept the alpha feedback signal off, and Group 3 named titles of tunes. The hypothesis was not supported. (Author)

A discussion of the need for careful personnel selection examines the appropriate use of psychological inventories and provides a step-by-step guide to the selection process. (MSE)