This review of the Peabody Individual Achievement Test--Revised (often used with learning-disabled students) notes the addition of a Written Expression subtest, replacement of most items to reflect current curricular content, and use of updated norms. The test also measures: general information, reading recognition, reading comprehension,…

Reports a study of 269 students (males=147, females=122) from eight high school graduating classes in Shanghai, China, to determine whether gender differences in mathematics achievement as manifested in the United States exist. Analysis of variance by school on two measures indicated no gender differences except in one school on one measure. (MDH)

Test specifications need to take a middle road so that they are not so general that instructional targeting is impossible and not so specific that only unitary assessment targets are fostered. Using illustrative sample items provides a good means of communicating the items eligible to be tested. (SLD)

Standardized tests in speech and language may be culturally biased for use with rural children. Recommends (1) training school personnel for cultural awareness; (2) purchasing culture-free tests; (3) developing local norms and conducting item analyses on tests; (4) identifying bias and modifying testing procedures; (5) accepting dialectical…

The author's previous article was intended to demonstrate that research on intellective sex differences (SDs) was incomplete because of a general preoccupation with SDs in means. SDs in central tendency and SDs in variability must be considered together to comprehend differences between male and female distributions in abilities. (SLD)

This article examines special problems in assessing young blind children resulting from their great heterogeneity. Case studies are offered to illustrate the irresponsibility of applying standardized tests developed for sighted populations to blind children who have very different experiential backgrounds. Positive principles for assessment of the…

Discusses Pennsylvania's Tests of Essential Learning Skills (TELS) program. Suggests avoiding "teaching the test" by implementing a program to improve reading and math skills across the curriculum. Offers strategies for promoting reading skills in social studies class. Describes structured overview, anticipation guides, level guides,…

Examines current Adult Basic Education teaching and assessment methods in the United Kingdom and the United States to help define what constitutes success in adult basic literacy tuition. (SR)

Analysis of the records of all University of Missouri (St. Louis) optometry students entering 1980-88 found that, overall, undergraduate grades and the personal interview, were the most significant components of a student's entering profile in predicting performance in the first professional year, first and second professional year, four-year…

Examined gender differences in means and standard deviations for main subscales of the Children Motivation Analysis Test (CMAT), an instrument for quantifying human motivational dynamic traits among upper elementary school children. The test was administered to 540 Zimbabwean children in sixth grade, and results indicated that the CMAT is suitable…

The development of tools for testing the abilities of students in "interpreting data" is discussed. A longitudinal and cross-sectional study of the responses of examinees and the application of SOLO Taxonomy for the design of structured questions to classify the level of performance of examinees were used to select indicative items. (KR)

A discussion of the psychological impact of the African-American experience with the U.S. educational system focuses on how this psychological conditioning affects African-American students' performance on standardized tests and in college courses. It draws on theories of intellectual development and recent research on testing in African Americans…

To examine the effect of motivational manipulated conditions on students' mathematics scores, elementary students received either ordinary standardized test instructions or special instructions (do as well as possible for themselves, parents, and teachers). Those given special instructions scored significantly higher in the test, implying that…

The history of the concept of intelligence is reviewed, and the construction and uses of psychological tests are explored. Skills consist of a large number of abilities. It is argued that the psychological entity, intelligence, is determined by particular contexts, contexts often induced by social demands. (SLD)

Methods for detecting copying of multiple-choice test responses are reviewed and compared with respect to their effectiveness and the practicality of their application for groups of varying sizes. Reasons why effective detection methods are seldom applied in standardized and classroom testing are discussed. (SLD)