Curriculum developments in general from 1893 through the 1960's are first discussed, followed by curriculum developments in the social studies from 1916 to the present time. Progress in standardized social studies achievement tests dates from the early 1930's, at which time a Commission on the Social Studies attempted to apply new test techniques…

Norm-referenced and domain-referenced methods were each used to build sixth grade arithmetic tests. The tests were administered to samples of students and the results used for making content validity comparisons between the tests. Findings showed that the domain-referenced tests had higher content validity than the norm-referenced tests, that…

Presented at a symposium on "The Structure of Concept Attainment Abilities Project: Final Report and Critique," this paper provides the methodological aspects of the project. The discussion centers around a "Guide to the Multivariate Methods," which is provided in the paper. The basic guide-posts are the types of analysis and the types of content.…

Research on the effectiveness of graphical displays for information acquisition and retention lacks a system for classifying graph information and generating test items to assess learning. The purpose of this study was to validate a system based on two types of information and three types of informational units. Results of an analysis of variance…

The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) Is there a relationship between previous science knowledge and problem-solving performance?, (2) Is there a relationship between IQ, age, or reading ability and problem-solving performance?, and (3) Is there a relationship between selected cognitive factors of intelligence and problem-solving…

Test development efforts for constructing 35 of the tests included in a battery of 56 tests of possible cognitive abilities are described. Data were collected on 172 boys and 210 girls who had just completed the fifth grade. Item and total score statistics obtained for the 56 tests in the total battery are presented and discussed. (Author)

Recommendations of an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee relating to standardized testing in a state educational system are presented. The paper first discusses the concepts of measurement, evaluation, and standardized testing. Then follows discussions of Test Development, Qualifications of Test Users, General Use of Tests, The Use of Standardized Tests…

MOTIVATIONS, INTERESTS, AND NEEDS RELATED TO PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS BY WOMEN WERE STUDIED. A THREE-PART INSTRUMENT WAS DEVELOPED TO MEASURE SELECTED MOTIVATIONS, TO COLLECT DATA OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, AND TO MEASURE SATISFACTION OF ACTIVITIES. THE SAMPLE WAS COMPOSED OF 997 HOME ECONOMICS EXTENSION CLUB MEMBERS AND 129…

A table of specifications is primarily a grid which relates the two major components of an educational objective--the content element and the behavioral element. The processes involved in constructing a table of specifications is discussed. The table provides a more precise and relevant guide to student assessment. (Author/EC)

Answer changes on tests are more likely to be made on items early in a group of questions, toward the end of a test, and on difficult items. The reasons for this student behavior are examined. (Editor/JD)

ANALYSIS, a FORTRAN computer program developed as an aid to investigation of and instruction in the psychometric properties of test items, is described. The program utilizes both correlational and analysis of variance approaches to classical item analysis. (Author/JKS)

Describes how to develop a Likert-scale instrument for determining affective response to poetry on five levels. (DD)

Three age groups in six occupational samples were tested on the SCII and their scale scores were examined for significant differences. Data indicates that interests generally are not different for people of different ages in the same occupation. (Author)

A two-step weighted least squares estimator for multiple factor analysis of dichotomized variables is discussed. The estimator is based on the first and second order joint probabilities. Asymptotic standard errors and a model test are obtained by applying the Jackknife procedure. (Author)

Some implications of the multi-dimensionality of attainment tests are considered and a factor analytic study is reported of the responses to a placement test made by incoming students of English at universities in Germany. (Editor/LBH)