A 113-item survey instrument was designed to measure the class climate perceptions of 20,157 students in grades 7-12 as part of the "A Study of Schooling" research project. The 29 constructs of the questionnaire focused on students' interpersonal needs, classroom procedures, and instructional practices. Survey items were written in the first…

A strategy for overcoming problems with the Rasch model's inability to handle missing data involves a pairwise algorithm which manipulates the data matrix to separate out the information needed for the estimation of item difficulty parameters in a test. The method of estimation compares two or three items at a time, separating out the ability…

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the existence of item bias in an affective scale measuring self concept. The LISREL IV program was used to detect test item bias and factorial invariance. The ethnic groups compared in the study were Black, Hispanic, and White. The obtained factor…

This manuscript is a report of the third revision of the Maryland Preschool Self-Concept of Scale originally developed by Smith (1977). Two samples of 4-, 5-, and 6-year old children (N = 54 and N = 78) were administered the Maryland Preschool Self-Concept Scale - Revised (MPSS-R). In the first study, the measure was given twice, 3 to 5 weeks…

This study was designed to increase knowledge of the functioning of item bias techniques in detecting biased items. Previous studies have used computer-generated data or real data with unknown amounts of bias. The present project extends previous studies by using items that are logically generated and subjectively evaluated a priori to be biased…

This study describes and evaluates key bibliometric patterns in the articles published by the former "Journal of Education for Librarianship" (JEL) during its first 24 volumes of existence from 1960 to 1984. Data from each issue of JEL were collected and analyzed using a statistical analysis software package, SPSSx (Statistical Package…

Ways in which the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) can be used to perform some Rasch analyses are described in detail. It is shown how SPSS and a set of item calibrations can be used to estimate person abilities, standard errors of measurement, test characteristic curve, test information curve, classification consistency on a…

To determine if equal raw scores have the same "meaning" for students tested "in" and "out-of-level," four "out-of-level" grade groups who took the Vocabulary, Reading, and Mathematics Concepts subtests of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills typically administered to fifth graders were compared to "in…

Twelve tests of reading and math at the elementary level are classified according to a model which makes a distinction between criterion and domain tests. Score reporting and item analysis techniques are discussed. It is argued that most objectives-referenced tests do not specify their domains sufficiently to make interpretations more general than…

An approach for multiple factor analysis of dichotomized variables is presented based on distribution of first and second order joint probabilities of binary scored items. The estimator is based on the generalized least squares principle. Standard errors and a test of the fit of the model is given. (Author/RC)

A new system of order analysis, developed by Takeya and called Item Relations Structure Analysis (IRSA), was described and used for examining the structural relations among a set of 24 items on the addition and subtraction of fractions. A diagraph showing 16 chains of items that had discernibly common features was generated by this method, and…

Two studies are presented in this report. The first is titled "Empirical Studies of Multilevel Approaches to Test Development and Interpretation: Measuring Between-Group Differences in Instruction." Because of a belief that schooling does affect student achievement, researchers have questioned the empirical and measurement techniques…

An outline of strategies that can be used to diagnose and remediate the test-taking problems of nursing students has been adapted from an "Outline of Test-Wiseness Principles" conceived by J. Millman, C. H. Bishop, and R. Ebel. The outline consists of two parts: elements independent of the test constructor or test purpose, including time-using,…

Presented is an investigation of the item and factor characteristics which make up Forms 8, 9, and 10 of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Data on the ASVAB forms were collected from mulitary enlistment applications at 20 Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Stations. Item and factor analyses were conducted on samples equated…

A three-year study aimed at measuring the English speaking proficiency of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) candidates on a direct basis is described. A variety of "semi-direct" testing formats (involving test stimuli delivered by tape recording and accompanying booklet, with examinee speech tape recorded for evaluation) were…