The intent of large-scale assessment systems is to promote student achievement toward specific standards by holding schools accountable for the performance of all students. However, it is difficult to know whether large-scale assessment systems are having this intended effect as they are currently implemented. In this article, the authors examine…

Self-estimates of ability have been shown to be generally inaccurate but still continue to be used in career decision-making. The present study investigates the role of feedback and individual differences in goal orientation and self-efficacy in determining accuracy of self-estimates. A total sample of 94 high school-aged students gave…

Comprehensive academic achievement tests are routinely used by school psychologists in psycho-educational assessment batteries to identify learning disabled students. A variety of assessment measures are used across age groups to determine if a discrepancy exists between academic achievement and intellectual functioning; however, among the most…

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an integrated values, skills and knowledge (VSK) framework for initial teacher preparation programmes. The VSK framework articulated, in broad terms, the desired skills and knowledge components for beginning teachers, with the underlying core values permeating the programmes. The paper has two parts, the…

Item and test analyses can be used to revise and improve both test items and the test as a whole. Recommendations for item and test analysis practices as they are reported in commonly used measurement textbooks are summarized. A heuristic data set is used to illustrate test and item analysis practices. Techniques developed in this paper are…

A procedure for item analysis using distance clustering is described. Items are grouped according to the predominant factors measured, regardless of what they are. The procedure provides an efficient method of treating unanswered items. (Author/RC)

A test was developed for measuring the ability of college students to analyze emotional and nonemotional subject matter. Results of convergent and discriminant validation indicated that responses to emotional items appeared to change at an increasing rate with years in college, while responses to nonemotional items did not. (Author/RC)

Descriptive behavioral statements were written for each of the 609 items found on six career development tests in order to compare the tests in terms of their coverage of the major career development components and in terms of the specific learner behaviors included in the test outline. (Author)

The paper-and-pencil 50-item elementary school form of the dogmatism scale was shortened by use of the item statistics x50 and to produce a 20-item instrument with a test characteristic curve designed to maximally spread respondents around the midpoint of the score range. (Editor)

Predictive Sample Reuse is an alternative to parameter estimation for solving a variety of statistical problems. The technique is described and its relevance to criterion referenced measurement discussed. An item analysis procedure which does not require multiple test administrations or variability in test or item scores and which adheres to the…

Formulas and a FORTRAN program for computing Kendall's Tau as well as a generalized Spearman rho coefficient from ordered contingency tables are described. (Author)

Examines the application of the Rasch simple logistic model to analogy test items. (RC)