University faculty responding to the Faculty Orientation Toward Grading Inventory expressed a norm-referenced orientation; community college faculty expressed a self-referenced orientation. Four year college faculty unexpectedly least favored grading overall. A fourth attitude construct, criterion-referenced grading, was not found to be valid.…

This research was concerned with the significance of class size, class level, and core v noncore sections of classes in instructor evaluation at a major state university. High evaluations were associated with small, noncore, undergraduate classes. (Author/CP)

Results revealed significant differences among elementary school teachers grouped by teaching experience, degree level, number of reading courses, and grade level taught. All differences supported the construct validity of the Inventory of Teacher Knowledge of Reading. Internal consistency reliability was estimated at .91. (Author)

Evidence is presented partially supporting the reliability and construct validity of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory with Filipino adolescent girls. A test-retest coefficient of 0.61 was found over a nine-month period. Self-esteem scores were significantly associated with IQ scores and teacher ratings of pupils' self-esteem. (Author/BW)

Discusses a publication on the technical adequacy of tests used in simulated decison making. Suggests the use of poor diagnostic instruments can incorrectly influence a multidisciplinary team making student placement decisions. Authors respond to Wright's criticism. (JAC)

Describes a study to compare the relative validities of ranking v categorical rating procedures for obtaining student vocational preference data in exploratory program assignment situations. Students indicated their vocational program preferences from career clusters, and the frequency of wrong assignments made by each method was analyzed. (MF)

Analyzes the ABIC using data on elementary children across racial and social lines. On item difficulty, scores are higher for middle-SES, older, first- or second-born children, and from families whose structures are more typical. ABIC-achievement correlations generally are too low to be of value. (Author)

The behavior of preadolescent males was rated by two teachers using the Devereux Child Behavior Rating Scale. Interrater teacher reliability estimates were not significantly different than those reported with mental health professionals, but differentiated significantly between diagnostic categories. (Author)

In a study of elementary students, the relationship between the Matching Familiar Figures (MFF) and social and emotional adjustment were higher than correlations between MFF and achievement. Suggests MFF performance is related more to adjustment than achievement. Latency in MFF scores did not predict achievement or adjustment. (Author/JAC)

Methodological techniques were employed to study the reliability, validity, and uniqueness of peer ratings that two sets of graduating students received during their final internal medicine rotation. Results indicate that peer ratings given as part of a promotion process were internally consistent, unbiased, and valid. (Author/MLW)

Describes the development of a 13-item self-report Affective Communication Test (ACT) and reports on studies showing the ACT to be a reliable and valid measure of individual differences in expressiveness or "charisma." (Author/SS)

Computer-based Monte Carlo methods compared the predictive accuracy upon replication of regression of five complete and four incomplete factor score estimation methods. Prediction on incomplete factor scores showed better double cross-validated prediction accuracy than on complete scores. The unique unit-weighted factor score was superior among…

This article discusses some of the technical aspects of competency testing with attention to the psychometric and decision theory aspects, specifically, instrument validity, the establishment of cutting scores, and the cost-benefit analysis of program decisions. (Author/SJL)

This study was conducted to determine if an operational performance evaluation was valid and feasible for an area of small engine instruction. Four classes were evaluated using both a pencil-and-paper test and an operational performance test. One of the findings was that a positive relationship exists between student scores on the two tests. (LRA)

Deans' letters of recommendation can be regarded as measuring instruments that are used in the selection process to evaluate and predict the future performance of residents and interns. This study demonstrates that the dean's letter can be a reliable and valid measure of medical student performance that correlates with performance in residency…