A brief exploration of the essential philosophy of second-language proficiency testing within a communicative framework yields the following five principles for teachers designing second-language tests: updating outmoded tests; critically and objectively evaluating test effectiveness; ensuring test reliability and validity; ensuring tests'…

Revised Thelen's (1954) Group Emotionality Rating System, developing new criteria and assessment procedures. A reliability study of 4,343 verbal statements from 6 different Norwegian groups revealed an overall agreement of .77, with the emotionality subcategories ranging from .57 to .67. Discusses validity of the emotionality categories according…

Administered questionnaire to 250 Israeli army personnel to examine 17 variables as potential predictors of organizational commitment. Found 8 variables to be relevant: interesting work, co-workers' attitudes toward the organization, organizational dependency, age, education, employment alternatives, attitudes of family and friends, and importance…

The Residential Checklist portion of the Adaptive Functioning Index was evaluated with 218 individuals with mental retardation in a large Australian residential facility, and found to be both valid and reliable for rating the intellectual and behavioral functioning of individuals, despite some inconsistency in the more subjectively rated measures.…

This paper addresses the predictive value for performance in medical school of undergraduate grades, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), selectivity of the undergraduate institution, and transcript data. The performance data examined were basic science grades; clinical science grades; scores on National Board of Medical Examiners…

Arguing that reliable and valid dropout rate estimates are prerequisite to establishment of causal factors and intervention programs, this article examines differences in definitions of dropouts, computational methods, and the complexities in defining cohorts, as well as the importance of sample attrition. Several sources of error are discussed.…

A study of the Glendon Examination of Bilingual Competence included a survey of former candidates, students, and faculty regarding perceptions of test content and format and development and piloting of a new test. Issues arising in the research are discussed. The test and grading criteria are appended. (Author/MSE)

Reviews evidence of sex bias in job evaluation judgments and analyzes research methods used to study the issue. Explores the following types of bias: (1) direct; (2) indirect; and (3) sex of rater. Findings indicate evidence of indirect bias, showing that high paying jobs tend to be evaluated higher than those with low pay. (JS)

Describes the development of a job evaluation plan by the University of Minnesota based on employee values of job worth. Items for the point-factor plan were selected by employee committees, grouped into factors, and weighted by means of a general employee survey. Discusses the plan's use in implementing comparable worth. (JS)

In the attempts to improve teaching and learning through the use of psychometrics and its underlying science, conditions have been set inadvertently that are unlikely to encourage and support learning and self-evaluation. (IAH)

Computers are used to manage assessment information for special education students and to administer, score, and interpret tests. Although the content validity of computer-administered assessment instruments may have certain practical limitations, several useful advantages can be gained by using computer-administered tests, including real-time…

Responds to Dunn's paper on Hispanic-Anglo differences in IQ scores. Comments on Dunn's translation of Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised into Castilian Spanish, and concludes this version is inappropriate for mainland Puerto Rican and Mexican-American children due to improper translation and validation methods. Contains 27 references.…

The issue of interpretation of standard test scores of minorities is discussed. The history of the issue is reviewed. The National Academy of Science's decision to reinterpret the scores of minorities is summarized. (YP)

Examines the structure, validity, and reliability of Guglielmino's self-directed learning readiness scale. Reviews related literature and refutes Guglielmino's thesis. Reports data derived from an administration of the scale that reveal problems in wording and show that the scale measures a homogeneous construct not associated with readiness for…

The effectiveness of value-added programs can be enhanced by employing appropriate methods of faculty judgments to support content-related and instruction-related evidence for validity by adapting standard-setting techniques to judge gains observed and by using appropriate caution and research designs when making causal inferences. (Author/MLW)