A study of 233 individuals with severe mental retardation examined the validity of the Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped-II (DASH-II) through correlation with the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). DASH-II as a whole was found to have a high degree of convergent validity with the ABC total score. (CR)

Four studies investigated reliability and validity of the Theory of Mind (TOM) test, an instrument for assessing theory-of-mind ability in typical children and children with pervasive developmental disorders. The TOM test was found to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring various aspects of theory of mind. (Author/CR)

Developed a measure of conversational experience and comfort, the Speaking Extent and Comfort Scale (SPEACS). Results with 400 undergraduates show that all four SPEACS subscales have good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Discusses use of the measure in studies of social networks, social experience, and other dimensions of…

Comparison of direct (a survey) and indirect (mock petition drive) attitude measures regarding opening a group home for people with mental retardation in the neighborhood found that the survey was not a very reliable predictor of how people would react when asked whether they agreed or objected to such a group home. (DB)

Describes the development and evaluation of the Choice Questionnaire, an instrument designed to measure the availability of choice to people with intellectual disability. The scale can be administered by interviewing the consumer or may be completed by a knowledgeable proxy. Very satisfactory reliability and validity have been determined.…

A study involving 512 staff serving individuals with mental retardation investigated the validity of the 33-item Staff Stressor Questionnaire (SSQ). The SSQ measures potential stressors, including user challenging behavior, poor user skills, lack of staff support, lack of resources, low-status job, bureaucracy, and work/home conflict. Results show…

Three studies are reported addressing the reliability of the Scale for Assessing Emotional Disturbance (SAED), a standardized, norm-reference measure linked to the federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED). Results indicate the SAED possesses acceptable test-retest reliability and reasonable interrater reliability and can assist in the…

TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study) is the largest, most ambitious study of comparative education ever attempted. Despite the TIMSS Subject Matter Advisory Committee's best efforts, not all test items truly reflect student math and science achievement. Some items have more than one correct response; some are not grounded in…

Critically examines arguments that downgrade the importance of test reliability in English language proficiency testing of international students who attend British universities. Urges universities to move quickly to adopt an appropriate multiple- judgement approach to English language proficiency assessment and identifies alternative sources of…

Examines the reliability and validity of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior (SIQ-JR) as an instrument for identifying and assessing current suicidal ideation in a sample of 91 children and adolescents. Psychometric results showed that the internal consistency reliability coefficient and the test-retest reliability coefficient of the SIQ-JR…

Describes the development and validation of the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language (IASNL), which was based on a conceptual framework related to beliefs about language, recognition of sexist language, and willingness to use inclusive language. Results from four studies indicated that the IASNL was valid and reliable. Two short…

A self-report measure, the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems Scale (CHIP), was developed to identify basic coping dimensions for responding to health problems. The CHIP factor structure, established with samples of 532 adults and 598 adults in Canada, is cross-validated with 390 general medical patients and 286 chronic back pain patients.…

The Adolescent Attachment Questionnaire, an assessment of attachment characteristics in adolescents, was developed and validated with a normative sample of 691 adolescents and 133 adolescents in psychiatric treatment. Internal reliability and agreement for the 91 sample members who completed the scale twice were adequate. (SLD)

This paper reviews the reliability of picture identification tools for assessing preschool children in previous studies; provides recommendations for assessing the health knowledge of preschool children; and suggests ways that health knowledge data can be used appropriately in early childhood education programs. (SM)

Examined differences in performance as well as reliability and validity indices for 256 Head Start children screened with Brigance K&1 screen. Found high overall test consistency, but considerable variability across subscales. Classification analyses established that the Brigance was not completely accurate in predicting early school…