The method of Instrumental Variables is suggested as an alternative to traditional methods for estimating the reliability of test scores which avoids certain drawbacks of these methods. The use of the Instrumental Variables method is illustrated with a data set involving reading and math tests. (Author/JKS)

Describes the Knowledge of Child Development Inventory (KCDI), a multiple-choice test of knowledge of child development from birth to age three in the areas of emotional, cognitive, physical, and social development. Normative data, reliability, and validity statistics are given. (Author/BL)

Presents a multidimensional model which includes background, personal, and environmental influences on aspiration, mastery, and career commitment motivation. Results of a test of the model on 1,863 high school students revealed the three influences related to the three motivation dimensions. Indirect and direct effects for each motivation…

A baccalaureate nursing program's review process was evaluated for technical adequacy, utility, and practicality and for legal and ethical considerations. Based on responses from six committee members and 135 admitted students, the study found that applicants' rights were protected, ethical practices were followed, and the evaluation instrument…

The Laramie County School District Number 1 (Wyoming) developed local norms for a standardized developmental test of entering school students. The district's analysis of the differences between the local norms and the national norms is presented. Further study of the results is needed to assess the tests' usefulness. (MD)

A recommendation to renorm the Bayley Scales of Infant Development is based on (1) high scores obtained on infants in rural North Carolina (N=305); (2) published means for other samples of infants born in the 1970s; (3) recent age placement revisions of items on the Gesell Developmental Examination. (Author/JW)

The construction and refinement of the Yale Children's Inventory (YCI) is described, resulting in 11 scales (eight behavioral and three cognitive). The relationship and content of the three relevant YCI scales (attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity) are compared to the DSM-III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) diagnostic categories for attention…

Criticizes the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude 2 (DLTA-2): (1) scoring criteria for the Story Construction Test are questionable; (2) the Word Fragment Test may not be practically significant; (3) the Picture Book is inconvenient to use without an index or table of contents. One major strength is the provision for combining subtest scores. (SRT)

The development and validation of the Attitudes Toward Statistics (ATS) for measuring attitude changes in introductory statistics students is described. Two ATS subscales are identified: Attitude Toward Course and Attitude Toward the Field. These were demonstrated to have both high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. (Author/DWH)

This study investigated the relationship between teachers' attitudes toward evaluation and elementary school climate. The instrument used in the study was the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ) which described eight dimensions of school climate. (Author/DWH)

Describes the Luiten, Ames, Bradley Readability Variation Method for estimating the variation within a text. Concludes that it is practical and relatively accurate. (HOD)

Much of the responsibility for measuring teacher competency rests with teacher educators. Instead of developing new observation inventories, educators should use available ones. This article describes instruments used at the University of Toledo's competency-based teacher education program since 1979 and suggests they are broad enough to be used…

This article describes the development of a research-based teaching evaluation system including instrument development, content validation, and field testing. More than l,200 observations of teacher practice at all grades were made, and results support the instrument's value in teacher training, remediation, and evaluation. (Author/MT)

Bender Gestalt Test data from 60 severely emotionally handicapped and 60 normal children were computer digitized and scored traditionally. Reliability results from comparison of analysis techniques favored computer approach; criterion-related validity was unsuccessful for both scoring methods; and concurrent validity results indicated limited…

Concludes that the lack of normative data, the suggestion that even one failure on the test (with approximately 111 items) makes a child suspect for "at risk" labelling, along with the brevity of directions and interpretation of data require that the test be used with great caution. (FL)