A study examined the extent to which a 19-item short form of the Speech Evaluation Instrument (SEI) is a reliable instrument, what factor structure emerges from the analysis, and how that factor structure compares to that reported for the 30-item long form of the SEI. Subjects, 606 undergraduates enrolled in speech communications classes at two…

Standardized reading tests and associated issues involved in the teaching of reading skills are discussed, with illustrative examples of reading tests commonly used in Australia. The nature of standardized reading tests is analyzed, and the circumstances under which such tests should be used are outlined. Interpretation of scores from standardized…

Automatic memory processes were investigated in 10 mild and moderately retarded persons (21 years old) and in 10 chronological age-matched college level and 10 mental age-matched elementary grade control subjects through use of a frequency estimation task. This task required the subjects to view a series of slides, then estimate how many times…

A test scoring system was developed, composed of an optical mark sense card reader (Chatsworth Data Corporation) interfaced with a microcomputer (TRS-80 Model I) that provided the opportunity to do extensive diagnostic and course material testing with item analysis. This system reduced the amount of time required to determine the suitability of…

The basic qualities which questionnaires must have in order to serve best the purpose for which they are designed are emphasized. A description of the preliminary planning necessary to questionnaire construction, as well as the construction of the form itself, is provided. Various types of questionaire items and the advantages and disadvantages of…

In Fall 1971, three tests were administered to new students at the American University of Beirut. The predictive validity of each of these tests and of weighted combinations of them with GPA and performance in selected courses as criteria are investigated. (RC)

Provides evidence that students perceive test items arranged in a hard-medium-easy order as being easier than the same items arranged in the reverse order, but it was also found that the students' perceptions did not influence the scores. (RB)

Research performed pursuant to a U.S. Office of Education contract, OEC-5-10-154.

This presentation compares the results of a reanalysis of items in one form of a level of the 1978 SRA Achievement Series with the results from the pretest analysis. The bias analyses were performed on white or majority, black, Hispanic, male, and female samples from the pretest and two subsequent samples. Comparisons were made in terms of the…

The logical foundations of deduction and induction are outlined to form the rules for the construction of a set of tests of reasoning ability. Both deduction and induction involve the derivation of a conclusion from a set of premises. Deductive logic uses syllogisms and is abstract. Inductive logic is both empirical and abstract. Although…

A method of investigating for possible bias in test items is proposed that uses analysis of variance for item data based on groups that have been selected to have identical test score distributions. The item data used are arcsin transformations of item difficulties. The methodological procedure has the following advantages: (1) The arcsin…