The empirical relationships among about 90 reading objectives were examined. The objectives span late first-grade through the sixth-grade (nominally). The results of contingency analyses and correlational analyses are reported. The identification of learning hierachies is stressed. Such hierarchies are apparent in the early learning of reading…

Fifty-two students from two universities who had demonstrated mastery of the use of behavioral objectives were randomly assigned either ten knowledge level objectives (K), ten above knowledge level objectives (A), or to a non-objectives control group (C). All were tested on the same prose material using knowledge and above knowledge level items…

Criterion-referenced testing is designed to determine the student's ability to perform a specified skill within a comprehensive task. To measure the student's degree of development or growth, a teacher-made test is used. This test is used as criterion-referenced in the measuring of a student's degree of achievement of specified behaviors within a…

Results are presented of an investigation made to (1) provide a description of the testing models that are currently being used in selected individualized instructional programs, (2) compare three programs along the component parts of the testing model, namely, selection of a program of study, criterion-referenced testing on the unit objectives,…

The item (difficulty and discrimination) and test (reliability and validity) statistics in classical test theory are highly dependent upon the calibration sample of individuals used. The estimates of item and test parameters in classical test theory is valid within a range of interest along the characteristic measured. Generally, this range of…

Eight papers on various aspects of criterion-referenced measurement presented at the 1972 AERA Conference are reviewed. A list of the papers reviewed, their authors, and, when applicable, the ED numbers is provided. In addition, 10 references considered as valuable are provided. (DB)

Three types of evaluation used in program evaluation and the type of instrument or measure used are discussed. The three types of evaluation are: comparison group evaluation, analysis of learner outcome or product objectives, and process evaluation. Measurements employed are either direct or indirect. Most measurement in education is usually…

The contention that interpretation of a student's performance on a criterion referenced test should be independent of the performance of his classmates is challenged. The Mastery Learning Test Model, which was developed for analyzing criterion referenced test data, is described. An estimate of the proportion of students in an instructional group…

For individualized or computer assisted instruction, norm referenced testing is inadequate to determine each individual's mastery on specific kinds of tasks. Hively's item forms and Ferguson's stratified item forms, both based on observable characteristics of the problems, and Scandura's algorithmic technology, positing that persons use rules to…

Quality assurance is viewed as a means of maintaining desired performance levels during the operational use of a developed instructional program. Presented here is an analysis of the functions and the basic requirements of a quality assurance system. Procedures for implementing the system are described and discussed. The procedures include…

The teacher of gifted children must provide for individual differences in level and skills of reading, and allow opportunities for children to pursue their own interests. To avoid the destructive syndrome of wasted time and unnecessary rote review, the teacher should assign each child reading materials on the basis of his achievement level (rather…

Differences in design between norm referenced measures (NRM) and criterion referenced measures (CRM) are reviewed, and some of the procedures proposed on designing and evaluating CRM are examined. Differences in design of NRM and CRM are said to arise from the different purposes that underlie each measure. In addition, there are differences among…

A unique system is described for creating tests by computer. It is unique because, instead of storing items in the computer, item algorithms similar to Hively's notion of item forms are banked. Every item, and thus every test, represents a sample from domains consisting of thousands of items. The paper contains a discussion of the special…

This study compared a domain referenced approach with a traditional psychometric approach in the construction of a test. Results of the December, 1975 Quarterly Profile Exam (QPE) administered to 400 examinees at a university were the source of data. The 400 item QPE is a five alternative multiple choice test of information a "safe"…

Research studies that have investigated the use of mastery testing models and other related techniques are examined. A review of the procedures suggested for setting the pass fail point is also discussed. (Author/DEP)