Evaluation is discussed as knowledge construction. Examinations are considered as tests of knowledge or as tests of students and then as selection tools or as the construction of knowledge in themselves. Examinations involve the power to define what is common knowledge in a discipline and in a culture, and the examination discourse contributes to…

Current theories of metacognition suggest that effective control of learning by either metacognitive or self-regulatory processes cannot occur without accurate monitoring of learning. Given this theoretical framework, there are questions of whether knowledge monitoring and self-regulated learning abilities are domain-specific or whether…

The purpose of this study is to examine multiple influences on twelfth-grade environmental knowledge for a national probability sample of high school students. A longitudinal model was developed and tested incorporating background factors (socioeconomic status and gender) and intervening variables (internal locus of control, level of science…

Data from a national survey of American economic literacy were used to investigate the relationship between economic knowledge and public opinion on economic issues. The telephone survey data were collected by the Gallup Organization from a sample of 1,005 members of the general public in March 1992. The instrument contained about 46 questions…

In an attempt to determine the level of questioning according to Bloom's taxonomy, generated by test items that accompany selected fifth-grade science textbooks, an analysis of the tests provided by three of the most commonly used elementary science textbooks was completed. Additionally this analysis examined the extent to which each series…

In January of 1994 the Addictions Training Center at the University of Nevada, Reno surveyed the treatment staff and directors at 46 publicly supported addictions training centers located in the state of Nevada. Four hundred twenty-nine surveys were mailed, and 189 were returned. In addition to demographic information, respondents were surveyed on…

The relationships among prior knowledge, learning strategy use, interest, learning goals, and conceptual understanding were studied with 72 fifth graders from 3 science classrooms. In September 1996 students completed a knowledge test designed to assess their prior knowledge and conceptual understanding of ecological concepts (plant and animal…

This report presents findings of a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,941 borrowers who received federal student loans during the 1996-97 academic year under either the Federal Direct Student Loan Program or the Federal Family Education Loan Program. The survey focused on quality and ease of loan program administration,…

In the context of Phase Four of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Attribute Study, this report includes a discussion of item attributes, an overview of the item attributes used in the study, some psychometric characteristics of the blocks analyzed, a general description of the rule-space methodology, the results…

This study applies multidimensional scaling (MDS) to a knowledge organization problem involving 12 concepts in pulmonary physiology. The concept structures were derived from individual medical and veterinary students before and after focused instruction. One hundred seventy medical students and 85 veterinary medical students completed a…

Findings of a study that explored the extent of knowledge and use of school-based management concepts by faculty, graduate students, and school administrators are presented in this paper. Nationwide data were obtained from surveys that were returned by 63 professors of educational administration, 82 principals, and 216 graduate students in…

This paper argues that Merrill's instructional transaction theory provides a framework that can decrease learners' problems in using computer simulations by specifying transaction shells rather than frames in designing interactive courseware. The three types of data used in a transaction, i.e., an instructional algorithm, are identified as a…

This digest reviews alternative certification on the basis of educational quality and the need to fill teacher shortages. Following a definition of traditional certification, the alternative certification route is described as a process designed to certify candidates who have subject-matter competencies, without going through formal teacher…

Effective administrator preparation programs and professional practices are important to enhancing principals' knowledge base. In chapter 1 of this report, "Strategies of Organizing Principal Preparation: A Survey of the Danforth Principal Preparation Program," Gerald C. Ubben and Frances C. Fowler discuss their survey of facilitators of the…

The 58 tests in this bibliography are used to assess one's knowledge and understanding of nutrition and foods. Some of the nutrition tests are part of a larger test on health. Tests are for all age and grade levels. This document is one in a series of topical bibliographies from the Test Collection (TC) at Educational Testing Service (ETS)…