This paper reviews research on symbolic play gaps between children with and without language impairment (LI), arguing that these gaps should not be interpreted as demonstrative of marked deficits in general representational or specific symbolic play competence of children with LI. Frequent encroachment of language into testing procedures is cited…

Describes study results that compared different ways of measuring frequency of alcohol use employed in previous research. Results of intake interviews with clients (N=832) indicate that frequency-of-alcohol-use reports can be affected by the type of response options used and by the location of items in a self-administered microcomputer interview.…

Translated five subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd ed.)--Picture Completion, Information, Similarities, Vocabulary, and Comprehension--into sign language and administered tests to 110 severely and profoundly deaf children. Results indicate that many of the subtest items differentially measured intelligence for deaf…

Summarizes a special journal issue that is intended to provide professionals and other members of the policy-shaping community with information concerning the appropriate role of IQ testing in school psychological services. Suggests that IQ testing is unfounded and has led the field of school psychology astray. (RJM)

Refutes Bonnie Cramond's claim that divergent-thinking tests surpass expert opinions in judging creativity. Baer's original article deplores using "creativity" tests to select students for gifted/talent programs. He recommends having experts evaluate the creativity of actual products (poems and artwork). All students should be taught…

Problems in using comparative data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study include the following: inadequate funding of the research; unique cultural factors; questionable sampling procedures; noncomparative curricula; irregularities in test administration; and student preparation for tests. Results do not identify the root…

Structured interviews with 154 adults with mental retardation showed two-thirds were either unable to respond or exhibited response bias. There was a significant difference in scores on the Adaptive Behavior Scale between those who exhibited response bias and those who did not. The substitution of a proxy respondent is discussed. (Contains…

Describes Florida's efforts at instituting statewide item banking and testing program in vocational education. Discusses rationale for statewide testing program and item banking procedure as well as development and coding of items, dissemination of item bank to school districts, and development of statewide test. Outlines problems encountered,…

Discusses student cheating on examinations and research/term paper assignments. Offers methods and techniques to prevent or minimize cheating. (SR)

The evaluation of gifted programs is examined in terms of setting group and individual goals, measurement problems (validity, reliability, precision, ceiling effect, and overtesting), comparison groups (national norms or pre- and posttesting), and implementing evaluation strategies. (DB)

The fourth national goal is for American students to be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement by 2000. Although the U.S. seems outclassed by other nations, an emphasis on test comparisons is misleading because of biased relative rankings of nations and discrepancies in sampling and testing methodologies. Includes 29 references.…

Organizations sometimes find themselves doing things they don't really choose due to: (1) action anxiety, (2) negative fantasies, (3) fear of separation, and (4) reversal of risk and certainty. Application is made to psychoeducational testing in the field of learning disabilities. (DB)

A solution is offered to problems associated with the inequality in the manipulability of probabilities of classification errors of masters versus nonmasters, based on competency test results. Eschewing the typical arbitrary establishment of observed-score standards below 100 percent, the solution incorporates a self-correction of wrong answers.…

This response argues that Linda Siegel's paper (EC221505) confuses measures of intelligence with predicted achievement, calls for doing away with the construct of learning disabilities rather than the discrepancy definition model, and overlooks the need to determine which students qualify for special educational services for treatment of learning…

Practices surrounding the assessment and retention of young children have been driven by: (1) mandates and symbolic messages from policymakers and the public; and (2) educators' coping behaviors and supporting beliefs. The time has come to devise and test alternative ways to enhance young children's success at school. Includes seven references.…