These studies in test adequacy focus on two problems: procedures for estimating reliability, and techniques for identifying ineffective distractors. Fourteen papers are presented on recent advances in measuring achievement (a response to Molenaar); "an extension of the Dirichlet-multinomial model that allows true score and guessing to be…

The Diagnostic Testing System (DX) is an integral system for developing and administering tests. The system can be utilized for testing in any subject matter, or any number of subject matters, at any level on scholastic or cognitive continuums. The major purpose of DX is to provide diagnostic data about the level at which a given student (or group…

In the answer-until-correct mode of multiple-choice testing, respondents are directed to continue choosing among the alternatives to each item until they find the correct response. There is no consensus as to how to convert the resulting pattern of responses into a measure because of two conflicting models of item response behavior. The first…

As one in a series of test item collections developed by the Assessment and Evaluation Unit of the Directorate of Studies, items are made available to teachers for the construction of unit tests or term examinations or as a basis for class discussion. Each collection was reviewed for content validity and reliability. The test items meet syllabus…

This study tests the hypothesis of a gender difference in academic achievement as a function of measurement method. The biasing influence of measurement method on achievement has been recognized. Campbell and Fiske (1959) suggested that a considerable proportion of the variation in test scores may be due to features of the form of test (method)…

The project described in this report was designed to provide competitive events for students of distributive education which correlate with competency-based curriculum. The products which were developed by the project are 109 written competency-based events in eleven occupational areas and 115 performance events in twelve occupational areas.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the stability of measures of student writing performance across types of discourse (genres) and across response modes (selected response: multiple choice; constructed response: single paragraph, and full length essay). The study addressed the following: (1) the relationship/stability of writing scores…

Connecticut's experience with four different standard-setting methods regarding multiple choice proficiency tests is described. The methods include Angoff, Nedelsky, Borderline Group, and Contrasting Groups Methods. All Connecticut ninth graders were administered proficiency tests in reading, language arts, and mathematics. As soon as final test…

A project to evaluate Furth's Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks is described, particularly as that test might be useful in adapting instruction and curricula to the cognitive level of science students. This multiple-choice paper-pencil inventory has 72 items in five problem areas: conservation, images, relations, classification, and laws.…

The Test for Inquiry Social Studies (TISS) is a 40-item multiple-choice instrument designed to measure the application of either inquiry social studies or higher-level cognitive thinking skills in fifth and sixth graders. The test can generally be completed in 40 to 50 minutes. This administrator's guide contains information on the reliability,…

In three experiments subjects (college and high school students) read passages which described psychological principles and answered either adjunct application or factual questions while reading. Questions were presented either before, after, or both before and after the parts of the passage that answered the questions. Subsequently subjects took…

The document presents multiple-choice exercises designed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to measure the ability of students (ages 9 through 17) to recognize and describe various works of art. The objective is to provide classroom teachers easy access to released and tested art assessment materials. For each exercise,…

Data from the verbal portion of the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Aptitude Tests were used in an experimental test of the accuracy of equating for a variety of models in three categories: linear equating, equipercentile equating, and item characteristic curve equating. The models were tested for both mean squared error and bias.…

The three-, two- and one-parameter (Rasch) logistic item characteristic curve models are compared for use in a large multi-section college course. Only the three-parameter model produced clearly unacceptable parameter estimates for 100 item tests with examinee samples ranging from 594 to 1082. The Rasch and two-parameter models were compared for…

TO ENCOURAGE POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS TO READ PROPERLY AND CONTINUOUSLY, THE AUTHOR GIVES FREQUENT SHORT QUIZZES BASED ON THE ASSIGNED READINGS. FOR EASE IN ADMINISTRATION AND SCORING, HE USES MARK-SENSE CARDS, ON WHICH THE STUDENT MARKS DESIGNATED AREAS TO INDICATE HIS NUMBER AND HIS CHOICE OF ANSWERS. TO EMPHASIZE THE VALUE OF CONTINUED HIGH…