Presents an interactive view of reading assessment, which minimizes levels of comprehension and comprehension skills, focusing instead on readers' oral language, prior knowledge of the topic, and ability to reason, and emphasizes the teacher's role in gathering evaluative information. (MM)

Looks at errors made in assessment by teachers and makes a plea for adequate programs of training in assessment for teachers and for a greater understanding of assessment issues among students and the wider community. (Author/JOW)

Testing procedures can measure poor reading ability rather than ability in the tested area. This study examined the effects of different procedures for administering test items on 205 third grade pupils of varying reading levels. The procedures were: oral only; look-listen; and silent reading. Results and their significance are discussed.…

Reasons for not returning a questionnaire were studied among Lutheran church members sent a postcard to indicate no intention of replying. The analysis is based on 431 returned postcards. For most nonresponders, the interest value of the questionnaire topic was not high enough. Many who returned the negative reply card would be resistant…

Unless the characteristics of the units accompanying measurements are known, little legitimate evaluation can occur. Educators cannot assume their measurements are valid bases for evaluative statements unless higher level techniques (such as interval and ratio scales) have been employed. Misinterpretation arises from assuming that measurements…

For measuring the face validity of a test, Nevo suggested that test takers and nonprofessional users rate items on a five point scale. This article questions the ability of those raters and the credibility of the aggregated judgment as evidence of the validity of the test. (JAZ)

Because it is possible to distort the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale (ATDP) scores, the ATDP should not be used as a screening device unless it is used in conjunction with other attitude measures. It might be used as a measure of a person's knowledge of what constitutes "positive" attitudes toward disabled persons in our…

Reports on a study that examined the readability of a selection of C. S. E. papers taken from six subject areas. Found that, with the exception of that given in history, the exams did not make excessive demands on the candidates' reading skills. (FL)

Three procedures that help to determine the degree of confidence we can place in any raw score are discussed: computing the standard error of measurement, computing the estimated true score, and constructing confidence intervals. These three procedures are easy to use and require only elementary mathematical skills. (Author/CL)

Normal Curve Equivalents (NCEs), a new score system for standardized tests, are used by school districts in reporting results to federal funding agencies. The author uses a quiz format to answer questions on the use of NCE scores. (EGS)

Research on the semantic differential technique has provided evidence for variance in Osgood's formulation of dimensions of connotative meaning. Retest data based on Piotrowski's original sample is reported. Results indicate support for stability and consistency of the Evaluation dimension. Moderate consistency was found in scales comprising the…

This paper demonstrates the variety of positive-skew phenomena and discusses their theoretical, research, and practical implications in education. (PN)

Unreliable profiles impose the difficulty that ordinal and interval relations among the individual's scores become uncertain or unstable. A profile reliability coefficient is derived to estimate the relative expected extent of this ordinal and interval "inversion" for any profile of K measures. (Author/DWH)

A paradoxical phenomenon of decreases in reliability as the number of elements averaged over increases is shown to be possible in multifacet reliability procedures (intraclass correlations or generalizability coefficients). Conditions governing this phenomenon are presented along with implications and cautions. (Author)

Discusses the problems of overusing workbooks, dittos, and basal assessment tests in beginning reading instruction. Proposes alternatives. (FL)