This study was designed to identify students' misconceptions concerning frictional force, and Newton's laws of motion. It was also designed to determine the effectiveness of using instructions based on students' misconceptions to improve the teaching of physics. A pencil-and-paper test was administered to three groups of 16-year-old students:…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential effects on low and high verbal students of verbatim study questions adjunct to a text describing science concepts. The sample consisted of 217 eighth grade students enrolled in twelve Calgary (Alberta, Canada) schools. Materials developed for the study included an introduction to the…

Stanford Achievement Tests (Science) were examined to point out limitations of standardized achievement tests. Several factors teachers need to consider when using standardized tests were identified. Tests can be effective only if they measure the same content areas that make up the science curriculum. Good reading comprehension is needed for…

The first part of this curriculum guide for a college-level general chemistry course includes: (1) a list of 28 lectures/lessons with topic titles and content divisions; (2) behavioral objectives related to specific lessons; (3) a list of laboratory activities and objectives; (4) a course overview and syllabus for spring semester 1981; and (5) a…

The development procedures, test administration, data analysis, and future implications of a statewide needs assessment effort in the state of Ohio are described. A 114-item test) administered to 152 schools in Ohio in April 1979, was used to determine the statewide needs in science at the grade 8 level. Four content domains were included: (1)…

A new approach to item analysis, concerned not only with differences among individuals, but also differences among the groups in which the individuals may have membership, is described. This multi-level aspect may be applied to studies of differences among individuals, classes, and schools, depending upon the kind of problem being studied and the…

Instructors can use this inventory to prepare high school equivalency students for the reading skills test of the new form of the Test of General Educational Development (GED). It replaces the instrument previously recommended for that purpose, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED). Fifty-two multiple choice questions test the ability…

The purpose of this study was to develop, field-test, and validate a useable, objectively-scored test for use with advanced undergraduate college students majoring in elementary education. The first of three tests was submitted to groups of professors and teachers for analysis and criticism. Part II, Form A and B, was developed from the revision…

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to develop a paper and pencil science process test for fifth-grade students based on some of the goals for grades 3-5 of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS); and (2) to use this test and other tests to compare fifth-grade students who had been in the SCIS program for five consecutive years…

Included are performance-based test items for students completing the Unit I, Level 1, Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) materials. There are 25 specific performance objectives listed in the beginning which are later followed by several test items for each. Correct answers are given for each test question. Observation techniques are…

This publication provides examples of test items which can be used to test the performance of students after completing activities of Unit 1, Level II, in the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) materials. A total of 30 performance-based objectives are listed by several question items. Correct answers are provided. The publication is…

The 1972 assessment activities in the Massachusetts schools concentrated on the areas of citizenship and science, utilizing two seventh grade samples of 10,000 students each, with each group completing only one assessment form. The testing program utilized National Assessment Items for age 13, as well as a few items from the Measurement Research…

Lists the tests available in 1987 from the Examinations Institute of the American Chemical Society. Provides test results from the 1985 Inorganic Chemistry Test, the 1986 Advanced High School Chemistry Test, the 1986 Organic Chemistry Test, and the updated 1985 General-Organic-Biological Chemistry Test. (TW)

Discusses the advantages of using a pretest in introductory agronomy courses. Provides a pretest that has been developed for use in an introductory crops course taught at Southern Illinois University. Includes 25 definitions, 17 true-false and multiple choice questions, and 6 short answer questions. (TW)

Presents study findings which supported the use of answer-until-correct tests. Discusses results based on responses of secondary students from England (N=387) that revealed that the answer-until-correct test of mechanical reasoning had similar findings to the spatial reasoning test. (ML)