The use of structural equation modeling is discussed in testing a range of theories of learning and cognition involving the concept of a hierarchy of variables of increasing complexity. To illustrate this approach, one method is applied to Bloom's taxonomy to test the theoretical assumption of hierarchical organization. (Author/MSE)

Reanalysis of previous studies indicated mean persistence scores are highest and equal for success-motivated subjects with high subjective expectation of success and for failure-avoidance motivated subjects with low expectation of success; scores are lowest for success-motivated subjects with low success expectation and for failure-avoidance…

This book presents a method for the qualitative assessment of text difficulty, a method that relies on a total impression rather than on an analysis of text features. The method is based on matching samples of text to exemplars that have been scaled for comprehension difficulty. These exemplars range in difficulty from those suitable for the…

To ensure fairness, it is of critical importance that testing programs make sure that essay items given to examinees are equivalent in difficulty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability and accuracy of a logistic regression based polytomous essay difficulty index. Preliminary results from a simulation study (9 conditions with a…

A procedure was developed to analyze data with missing observations by extracting data from a sparsely filled data matrix into analyzable smaller subsets of data. This subdividing method, based on the conceptual framework of meta-analysis, was accomplished by creating data sets that exhibit structural designs and then pooling variance components…

An evaluation of the variation of item estimates was conducted for the multidimensional extension of the logistic item response theory (MIRT) model. The empirically determined standard errors (SEs) of marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE)/Bayesian item estimates from 40 items from the ACT Assessment (Form 24b, 1985) were obtained when the…

The objective of this study is to summarize Israeli children's information and interpretation of the 1973 Middle East War while the intense fighting was in process. (Author/KM)

Scores on three measures of conceptual complexity were related to a number of biographic and demographic variables. Grade point average and academic major were examined for implications of conceptual complexity for education; religious affiliation and voting preference for connections between levels of conceptual functioning and antecedent…

Data quite clearly indicated that students should be allowed and encouraged to reconsider and evaluate their responses to objective test items. (Author)

Experiments designed to investigate performance on a complex task as it varies with training. (Author)