This paper describes the development and validation of the Cognate Awareness Test (CAT), which measures cognate awareness in Spanish-speaking English Language Learners (ELLs) in fourth and fifth grade. An investigation of differential performance on the two subtests of the CAT (cognates and noncognates) provides evidence that the instrument is…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of training special education teachers in the process of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and subsequent development of recommendations to promote behavior change. An original evaluation instrument was developed that included measures of special education teachers' knowledge of…

Evaluation research pertaining to the development of assessment instruments that fully capture the facets of empowerment prevention perspectives among youth are sparse. With funding from the American Legacy Foundation, the University of New Mexico Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, in partnership with the New Mexico State…

Person fit statistics are generated when item response theory is used to construct measures. While person fit statistics are well grounded in theory, their utility in aggregate reporting of survey data has not been demonstrated. This study evaluated effects on reliability and validity of including and excluding misfitting person response patterns,…

The calculation of the F statistic for a one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the construction of an ANOVA tables are easily implemented on a spreadsheet. This paper describes how to compute the p-value (observed significance level) for a particular F statistic on a spreadsheet. Decision making on a spreadsheet and applications to the…

Since the 1980s, composition studies have considered the steps to be taken before assessment: designing the test essay question. While large-scale assessment has little control over writing variables (such as students' learning styles, their reading ability, and their interpretation of the topic), the content or the topic of the writing prompt and…

The newsletter describes two projects of the Teaching Research Infant and Child Center (Oregon) which are developing assessment systems for use with severely emotionally disturbed (SED) adolescents. The first project focuses on job-related social behavior while the second project addresses social behavior in community settings. An introductory…

A computerized system was developed to print out test items from permanent memory storage for achievement test construction. (RC)

Presents a valid measure of locus of control constructed for 4- to 8-year-old children. Includes data reflecting achievement, interpersonal distance, and social desirability. Future research directions are specified. (Author/SDH)

The 22 basic interest categories on the Strong Vocational Interest Blank for Men were used to classify the interests of men in 62 occupations. At least nine categories were required to describe adequately the interests of most occupational groups. (Author)

A cognitive processing model was adopted by the task force developing the National Association of Secondary School Principals' (NASSP) Learning Style Profile (LSP). The LSP contains 23 independent scales representing four higher order factors: cognitive skills; perceptual responses; study preferences; and instructional preferences. The subscales…

Adolescents struggle to establish their own identities and become independent in making the transition from childhood to adulthood. Adolescent alienation can result from changes in family structure from traditional two-parent families to one-parent families, decreased family stability, increased mobility of society, population increases,…

A study examined the reaction of college freshmen to 30 essay test prompts to determine if rhetorical factors in the prompt would affect a student's choice of that prompt. The subjects, 40 college freshman enrolled in an introductory English course, rated eight rhetorical qualities of the essay prompts: (1) whether the essay would be easy to…

The paper describes the reasons for developing a new instrument to measure adaptive behavior of mentally retarded residents at Glenwood State Hospital-School and recounts the processes involved in constructing the new scale. Among complaints about the American Association on Mental Deficiency Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) are its inappropriateness…