Most attempts to correct for the presence of biased test items in a measurement instrument have been either to remove the items or to adjust the scores to correct for the bias. Using the Rasch Dichotomous Response Model and the independent ability estimates derived from three sets of items, those which favor females, those which favor males, and…

The author discusses his observations from administering such tests as the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) to young disabled children in Costa Rica. Cultural influences and nuances of translations are seen to affect performance. Factors involved in remediation programing are also noted. A final consideration is the "barrio…

The development of some psychometric indices of performance rating quality based in judgement is traced. The conceptual and analytical confusion that characterizes contemporary research in this area is described. The operational definitions of several criteria of rating quality, including leniency and severity of the rating effect, halo effect,…

Because motivational factors and test wiseness can contaminate testing used for needs assessments or evaluation purposes, techniques for increasing student and teacher motivation are discussed. Guidelines concerning guessing are also presented. While guessing is encouraged on program evaluation or screening tests, it is not advocated for…

Criteria are presented for vocational evaluators who use work samples as one means of determining the vocational potential of blind clients. Included are rationale for the use of work samples; specific steps for their administration, scoring, and use of norms; and criteria for modifying present work samples and developing new ones. A literature…

A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS USED FOR OBTAINING A RATING OF JUNIOR-TEACHERS FROM THEIR PUPILS IN A GRADE SCHOOL WHERE THE CHILDREN WERE OF LATIN-AMERICAN DESCENT AND FROM A LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT HAD BEEN USED BEFORE WITH MIDDLE-CLASS CHILDREN IN TWO OTHER SCHOOLS CONSISTED OF 40 QUESTIONS REQUIRING "YES" OR…

This essay shows that the adoption of intelligence tests by the schools was a complex development. Tests were adopted during the 1920s as part of the reform program fashioned by the network of applied psychologists and school people. While the network itself often viewed testing as a means to improve the schools and society, immigrants and blacks…

A major objective of the measurement profession continues to be the assurance of high quality tests and proper test use. The National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) constitutes a group of testing practitioners, scholars, and specialists with well-informed opinions on matters of educational measurement and testing. NCME regards it as…

This paper presents the purpose, format, topics of seminar sessions, and participant recommendations of a conference on educational testing processes and their relation to blacks. The conference was held to familiarize participants with research data demonstrating the fallacies and inconsistencies inherent in the testing process as it relates to…

After reviewing the information that teachers and other decision makers need to have about student achievement and some recent advances in the theory and practice of reading assessment, the author makes a number of recommendations for improving assessment programs. These include: do less massive, broad-band testing, but improve the reliability and…

Cognitive and conditioning models of cue-controlled relaxation as well as the relative efficacy of applied relaxation and cue-controlled relaxation in alleviating test anxiety were investigated. Test anxious subjects (N=18) received either applied relaxation, cognitive cue-controlled relaxation, or conditioned cue-controlled relaxation. Between…

The paper reviews the literature on the problem of testing Spanish-speaking children with North American Instruments, and suggests some solutions to the problem. In the first section, studies done with Spanish-speaking children are considered; studies of other cultures follow; and a final section probes the issue of test bias. (Author/SBH)

This document contains abstracts of papers from a workshop resulting from events stemming from the Office of Education report, A Look at Women in Education: Issues and Answers for HEW. This report charged that a particular career interest inventory was sex-biased, but no operational definition of sex bias was given, the issues involved were not…

Models proposed by Cleary, Thorndike, Cole, Linn, Einhorn and Bass, Darlington, and Gross and Su for analyzing bias in the use of tests in a selection strategy are surveyed. Several additional models are also introduced. The purpose is to describe, compare, contrast, and evaluate these models while extracting such useful ideas as may be found in…

Article 77, Section 28a, of the Annotated Code of the Laws of Maryland, commonly called the Maryland Educational Accountability Program (MAAP), was passed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly. This act should insure when properly implemented, that educational programs: (1) lead to the attainment of established educational objectives, (2)…