The purpose of this study was to extend the evaluation of learners' views on blended learning and its implementation process by developing and validating an objective assessment instrument. Cronbach' alpha, item analysis and item discrimination indices, principal component analysis, varimax rotation, and discriminant validity were used to measure…

Researchers and clinicians have generally agreed that persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are susceptible to other DSM Axis I disorders. However, to date, little has been done to establish the specific disorders, their rate and severity of occurrence, and their interrelationship with ASD symptoms. One reason for the lack of research has…

Student assessment is an integral component of classroom instruction. Assessment is intended to help teachers identify what students are able to do and what content and skills students must develop further. State tests play an important role in guiding instruction. However, for some students, the tests may lead to inaccurate conclusions about…

This paper describes the process of designing and administering a sufficiently valid and reliable assessment instrument to measure the progress in attainment of adult learners studying numeracy, and discusses some of the inherent difficulties that were involved. The fieldwork took place during 2003-2005 and involved a sample of 34 teachers and 412…

The development of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test involves input from educators across the state. The development process attempts to create an assessment that reflects the skills and content understanding of students at the tested grade level. This study attempts to determine other factors that can affect student performance on…

In this article the development and validation of the Beliefs about Primary Education Scale (BPES) are described. The BPES is an 18-item scale for assessing primary school teachers' beliefs toward the nature of good education, subdivided in a transmissive dimension (TD) and a developmental dimension (DD). Both dimensions assess beliefs toward the…

This paper reports the development of the Negative Group Work Experiences questionnaire (NGWE), an assessment tool for measuring negative experiences of group work. Study 1 involved two samples of undergraduate psychology students (second-year sample n = 425; first-year sample n = 443), who completed research modules incorporating substantial…

An empirically based 78 question self-rating scale based on DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 criteria was developed to assist clinicians' diagnosis of adults with autism and Asperger's Disorder-the Ritvo Autism and Asperger's Diagnostic Scale (RAADS). It was standardized on 17 autistic and 20 Asperger's Disorder and 57 comparison subjects. Both autistic and…

There are many educational interventions being implemented to address workforce issues in the field of nanotechnology. However, there is no instrument to assess the impact of these interventions on student awareness of, exposure to, and motivation for nanotechnology. To address this need, the "Nanotechnology Awareness Instrument" was…

Described is the development of an attitude scale related to science for Papua New Guinea. Secondary school students and villagers with relatively little education were involved in the development of the scale. (RH)

The effects of pure tone stimulation on ongoing motor activity of infants 1 to 4 days of age were studied using a passive, contactless monitoring device. Stimuli were pure tone bursts of 0.5, 1, and 4 kHz presented free field at an approximate level of 70 dB A. Signal trials consisted of 500 ms tone bursts, with rise/fall time equal to 10 ms, and…

Comprehension tests (a short article on a topic of scientific interest followed by a series of test questions) and data tests (collection of data followed by questions) are being used more frequently. These tests are described and examples are given. (RH)

Test disclosure legislation in New York State (LaValle Act) has had a major impact on the national testing programs administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) for various sponsoring organizations. The paper reviews the immediate operational effects of test disclosure in the following areas: (1) increase in number of test forms developed;…

THE PAPER REPORTS ON AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE EMPIRICALLY, FOR SEVERAL TEST-CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS, THE AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT RESULTING WHEN TESTS ARE TAILORMADE TO FIT ONE PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC OF A LOCAL POPULATION--THE BASE RATES OF THE TWO CRITERION GROUPS WHICH THE TEST IS DESIGNED TO SEPARATE. THE BASIC PROCEDURE USED WAS TO CONSTRUCT A…

Sources of test bias are discussed and steps to prevent or reduce bias in tests are listed. Test bias can occur because of the way test materials are written, the conditions of administration, and the interpretations given the results. Steps to prevent or reduce bias arising in the test development process include: (1) using heterogeneous sets of…