Informal assessment techniques are adaptable to local adult basic education needs, relatively free of anxiety-producing format, effective time utilizers, and immediately interpretable by teacher/student. Presents assessment examples: student selected materials, Verbal Picture Analysis, graded paragraphs, Cloze Procedure, sentence completion,…

Characteristics of 11 Repgrid indices of cognitive structure, particularly Smith and Leach's hierarchical complexity index, are investigated among boys and girls, aged 9-15. The Smith & Leach index is shown to be significantly reliable; but in common with seven indices of cognitive differentiation, it is of dubious validity. (Author/GDC)

Investigates the psychometric properties of the Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale (PPNS-IE). The test was administered to first, second and third graders. (CM)

A longitudinal study of approximately 1,000 students aged 10-16 showed high stability of intelligence and creativity. Stability coefficients for intelligence were higher than those for creativity. Results supported the construct validity of creativity. (MH)

The self-report Imaginational Processes Inventory, originally devised for college students, was revised for use with high school students and administered to 181 ninth through eleventh graders. Reliability of the revised instrument was demonstrated. Score differences by sex and age (high school vs college) were analyzed. (Author/SJL)

Reported is a study designed to estimate reliability of a Q-sort self-concept instrument for science teachers and science students. (Author/SA)

Classical item analysis and Rasch latent trait analysis were applied to the responses of a sample of undergraduates to two measures concerning alcoholism. Little difference in terms of practical considerations was found between the methods. (JKS)

Three studies investigating the psychometric and conceptual properties of the self-report Survey of Ethical Attitudes inventory indicated that the scale is clearly susceptible to response dissimulation through role playing and impression management and is also confounded with sources of stylistic variance in the form of social desirability.…

In comparing educated, adjusted male homosexuals to educated, adjusted heterosexuals, no differences were found between the groups using the traditional index of homosexuality on the Rorschach. Results suggest the traditional index is not valid and should not be used in clinical settings as a measure to assess homosexuality. (Author)

Two achievement tests in French are critically examined: one on the students' vocabulary after three years of French, and one designed for student placement. Both are found to be reliable. The validity of their content and construction is discussed. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Development of the Stereotyped Behavior Scale for adolescents and adults with mental retardation is described. Use with 600 individuals resulted in refinement and a 26-item scale with an internal consistency alpha of 0.88, test-retest reliability of p=0.90, and interrater reliability of p=0.76. (DB)

The reliability and validity of the positive and negative mood scales of the trait version of the State Trait--Depression Adjective Check Lists (D. Watson and others, 1988) were supported with 269 college students, 197 adolescents, and 165 older adults. Results provide evidence of the equivalence of the positive and negative scales. (SLD)

WISC-III IQs and subtest scaled scores of 440 students with specific learning disabilities were examined for gender differences. Boys exhibited statistically higher Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs than did girls, as well as higher scores on six of seven subtests. Girls outperformed boys only on the Coding subtest. (Author/CR)

Fifty adults with mild mental retardation and their staff in supported living residential settings were interviewed to examine the reliability of self-reports of social support compared with staff ratings. Self-report ratings had moderate internal consistency, were consistent across rating scales, and were significantly correlated with staff…

Argues that language tests employing methods not fair to all test takers are unethical. Ways of reducing sources of unfairness in language testing is discussed. (15 references) (Author/CK)