An investigation analyzed difficulty and discrimination statistics for 91 multiple-choice tests written by 46 business administration instructors and administered to 7,511 students. A large percentage of the tests failed the difficulty and discrimination standards proposed by several testing experts, implying that teachers need more preparation in…

Preschoolers presented with a difficult match-to-sample task requiring task analysis performed successfully when taught to overtly ask themselves questions about the salient features of each display and then answer the questions. Most subjects performed poorly when told not to use the self-questions and answers, but performed well again when…

This response to Brainerd and Reyna's paper (in this issue) argues that the common resources hypothesis can be applied to a wider range of phenomena than can the output-interference hypothesis. Presents results of a dual-task experiment under bidirectional deficits. Concludes that dual-task studies do not provide critical tests of the resources…

Three studies examined the hypotheses that: (1) codability and not extent of distance determines difficulty; (2) critical features and not whole objects are coded; and (3) implicit perceptual axes provide a frame of reference for coding the display. Results supporting these hypotheses are discussed in terms of a description of spatial…

Talkers vary widely in the ease or difficulty with which they can be speechread. Examined are variables contributing to visual intelligibility, comparisons with auditory intelligibility, the range of talker differences, characteristics accounting for these differences (facial cues, extrafacial gestures, rate, and rhythm), and implications for…

Increasingly, papers in scholarly journals are listing over 100 researchers as coauthors. In 40 years, the average number of authors of scientific papers has doubled. Some say the problem reflects the growing complexity of the research process in many disciplines. Journal reviewers find these papers generally of high quality. (MSE)

The relationship between the verbal ability of 50 fifth graders and the adaptive nature of questions they asked while trying to find vocabulary synonyms was studied. Those with high verbal ability asked more necessary questions and, when items were difficult, asked more unnecessary questions, probably to increase confidence. (SLD)

Two investigations involving 700 candidates for medical specialty certification suggest that test items with only 4 options perform as well as the same items with 5 options. Results also suggest that five-option multiple-choice items can be reduced to four-option items by removing a nonfunctioning item. (SLD)

This longitudinal 1-year study examined the continuity of temperamental difficulty in a school-based sample of 975 middle adolescents. Data suggest that continuity and level of temperamental difficulty are linearly related to ratings of psychosocial functioning in several domains. Gender differences are also discussed. (SLD)

Optometry educators can be assisted in making complex concepts understandable to students by using rhetorical devices such as metaphors, similes, analogies, parables, and allegories. As an example, the difficulties in communicating everyday but complex clinical concepts regarding inflammatory disorders are discussed and use of rhetorical devices…

Current coaching practices used in training test wiseness for analogy items on standardized test batteries were investigated in a 3-group design involving about 100 undergraduates in each condition. The largest improvement came in items in the middle range of difficulty, but overall effects of coaching were important. (SLD)

Teachers and parents of 45 students (ages 8-17) with learning disabilities completed the Homework Problem Checklist. The study found that students with learning disabilities experienced nearly two and a half times the level of difficulty with specific homework problems as their nondisabled peers. (JDD)

Two groups of 10 adult aphasics received auditory-verbal "yes-no" questions, including egocentric, environmental, pictorial, and relationship items, either in a consistent order or random order. Support was found for the existence of a hierarchy of difficulty among the types of questions, but there was no significant difference between…

A meta-analysis of the difficulty and discrimination of the "none-of-the-above" (NOTA) test option was conducted with 12 articles (20 effect sizes) for difficulty and 7 studies (11 effect sizes) for discrimination. Findings indicate that using the NOTA option does not result in items of lesser quality. (SLD)

Adolescents and young adults (n=120) were assessed on their use and understanding of concordant and discordant adverbial conjuncts. Results demonstrated an increasing ability with age to use and understand these words in the written mode, with mastery in usage trailing understanding. Concordant and discordant conjuncts were equally difficult.…