A 10-year longitudinal study investigated whether 37 children identified as academically gifted at preschool but who received no specific support would be identifiably different from their peers after 10 years of Finnish comprehensive school. The gifted group scored significantly higher than controls for final school grades and scholastic…

The Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanic Youth (SASH-Y) was used to assess acculturation among 137 fourth- and fifth-grade children in rural southern Colorado, including 11 Mexican, 33 Mexican American, and 93 Euro-American children. The SASH-Y, especially questions related to language use, was found to be robust with a young, rural Latino…

This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales for measuring adaptive behavior in adults with mental retardation. It concludes that the advantages of the coverage of the main domains of adaptive behavior, their standardization, impressive psychometrics, and brevity are becoming outweighed by…

This article argues that by making the general curriculum the reference point for all considerations, the proposals set forth by the President's Commission in "The New Era: Revitalizing Special Education for Children and Their Families," are devoid of all considerations of individual differences. It questions the validity of scientifically based…

A study involving 58 adults with mental retardation and mental disorders found few correlations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Assessment of Dual Diagnosis (ADD). The major exception was the Mania scale of the MMPI, which correlated moderately well with the ADD Schizophrenia and Dementia scales. (Contains…

A study comparing peer and teacher evaluations of British university biology students' (n=39) performance found such comparison misleading as a guide to the validity of peer assessment. When individual criteria were analyzed, agreement of peers and teacher ranged from 31-62%, with specific areas of the criteria prone to over- and undervaluation.…

Evaluated the reliability and validity of the Child Behavior Scale (CBS), designed to assess behavioral indicators of risk and competence in young children. In the spring and fall, teachers used the CBS to rate their kindergarten children and sociometric measures were administered to children. Found that scores for six CBS subscales were…

Describes current procedures used for testing bilingual teachers in the United States and focuses on one means of assessment used in Arizona. Examinee questionnaire responses, teacher questionnaire responses and test section analysis all contributed evidence for validity. (33 references) (Author/CK)

Using item response theory to investigate differential item functioning (DIF), students' expected course grades were examined and found to function similarly across sex and race. These grades were incorporated into the matching criterion, enhancing the validity of subgroup comparisons for the third-grade mathematics test taken by 1,050 students.…

Describes the development of a language assessment instrument to be used across Canada to place adult newcomers in instructional programs appropriate for their level of English proficiency. Describes field testing and rating of the instrument, and discusses work in progress on the ongoing validation of the instrument. (31 references) (Author/CK)

Used 105 learning disabled children in grades one through three to assess the psychometric properties of a pictorial scale of perceived competence. Results reveal a three-factor solution for factor structure: (1) academic competence; (2) physical competence; and (3) social acceptance. Findings suggest that learning disabled pupils can discern…

Utilizing the Test of English Proficiency, developed by Seoul National University (TEPS), examined comparability between the paper-based language test and the computer-based language test based on content and construct validation employing content analyses based on corpus linguistic techniques in addition to such statistical analyses as…

The development of an experimental measure for assessing growth in movement in children (ages birth-3) is described. Results from the use of the Movement General Outcome Measurement with 29 infants and toddlers demonstrated the feasibility of the measure. The 6-minute assessment was found reliable in terms of inter-observer agreement. (Contains…

This study compared the mental health of 40 13- to 15-year-olds who had experienced the Bosnian conflict. Subjects scored either high or low on two self-report symptom checklists and were also assessed with qualitative methods. Results indicated that in 9 subjects the reported presence or absence of symptoms did not correspond to the qualitatively…

Examines multiple ways in which the normalization of sexuality might be interrogated. Argues that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered faculty and administrators can more effectively contravene the normalizing practices of heterosexism by refusing to remain silent about issues of sexuality. Includes implications for practicing researchers and…