Using a sample of 189 parents whose children were disabled or developing normally, the author shortened the 66-item short form of the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress to a 48-item version. Factor and item analyses revealed that the adpated QRS-SF is comprised of 7 factors, with each evidencing acceptable reliability coefficients. (Author/CL)

Constructing scales on the basis of components analysis by assigning weights 1 to variables with high positive loadings on the components and -1 to variables with high negative loadings was compared with other strategies of scale construction, which assign weights 1 or -1 to variables with high weights for the components. (Author/BW)

Demonstrated the reliability of the Body Sensations Questionnaire and the Agorophobic Cognitions Questionnaire on two clinical samples (N=175). The instruments fared well on tests of discriminant and construct validity. Concluded that these self-report inventories are useful, inexpensive, and easily scored measures for clinical and research…

This paper discusses optimal test construction, which deals with the selection of items from a pool to construct a test that performs optimally with respect to the objective of the test and simultaneously meets all test specifications. Optimal test construction problems can be formulated as mathematical decision models. Algorithms and heuristics…

The Rasch measurement model improves on traditional test construction by creating tests in which the person's ability is independent of the sample of items used and the norm group used to calibrate the test. This paper reviews the Rasch model by describing properties of the item characteristic curve (ICC) and discussing the utility of having…

Presented is an integer-programming approach to item pool design that can be used to calculate an optimal blueprint for an item pool to support an existing testing program. The results are optimal in the sense that they minimize the efforts involved in actually producing the items as revealed by current item writing patterns. Also presented is an…

A functional analysis was made of the verbal domain as it is defined by the test development process at the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The thesis of the study was that the verbal domain consists of semantic relations that examinees must interpret. Test developers used a system of rules to sample stimulus materials from among infinite…

This paper details the development and psychometric analysis of an instrument used for workshop evaluation. The instrument was designed to assess the effectiveness of the workshops, the instructors conducting the workshop training, and the training materials. The instrument used a Likert agree/disagree format. A psychometric analysis of scores…

This document provides some examples of questions that might be asked about research design and analysis, or that might be used in test construction. The accompanying answers form a basic discussion of research design and analysis techniques. Short-answer constructed response answers are provided for questions about: (1) control in an experiment;…

A data set collected by the Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP) that has both dimensionality and dependence characteristics was studied, and an item bundle model nested in a multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logit (MRCML) model (R. Adams, W. Wang, and M. Wilson, 1997) was applied to this data. Data are from…

In this study a cumulative-sum (CUSUM) procedure from the theory of Statistical Process Control was modified and applied in the context of person-fit analysis in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) environment. Six person-fit statistics were proposed using the CUSUM procedure, and three of them could be used to investigate the CAT in online test…

This study evaluated the practical benefit, if any, of using collateral information for one item type when statistically analyzing pretest items of some other item type. The criterion for evaluation of pretest item calibration accuracy was the reduction achieved by the use of collateral information in the number of test takers that must be…

This paper addresses four steps in test construction specification: (1) the purpose of the test; (2) the content of the test; (3) the format of the test; and (4) the pool of items. If followed, such steps not only will assist the test constructor but will also enhance the students' learning. Within the "Content of the Test" section, two…

The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) is designed for use as a quick intelligence test for individuals aged 4 years through adulthood. The K-BIT measures both verbal and nonverbal intelligence, yielding Vocabulary, Matrices, and IQ composite scores. The test is easy to administer, and questions are scored objectively, making it easy for…