The Standardized Test of Essential Writing Skills (STEWS) has been developed as a valid and reliable means of assessing expository writing skill. Studies concerning the reliability and validity of the STEWS are presented and their implications for use of the STEWS are discussed. (Author/DWH)

Developed three measures of clinical group benefits and presented empirical evidence (N=27) explicating the logic of the Interpersonal Relations Scale as an assessment device. Conceptualized the benefits of clinical groups as the fostering of intimacy skills by which group members learn about themselves, others, and their interpersonal…

Investigated the reliability of the McCarthy Screening Test (MST) from a criterion-referenced standpoint, using a sample of 1,323 children. Suggested that dependability indices be adopted for clinical instruments such as the MST. (JAC)

Given known item parameters for a test, unbiased estimators are derived for an examinee's ability parameter, his or her proportion correct true score for the variances of these parameters and for the parallel forms reliability of the maximum likelihood estimator of the ability parameter. (Author/JKS)

In an attempt to evaluate the psychometric credibility of the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) as the operational measure of reflection-impulsivity, a study of the short-term (1 week) reliability of different versions of MFFT for boys and girls at kindergarten, second, and fifth grades was conducted. (Author/SB)

Study compares performance on MMPI Mini-Mult inventory of black versus white juvenile delinquents of similar socioeconomic level, family background, grade level, and I.Q. The fact that there were no significant differences along racial lines indicates "that (this test) can be used to assess personality characteristics of both racial groups…

Declining test scores have been a major cause for concern in the past year. Describes the decline and explores some possible causes. (Editor/RK)

The problems of evaluating educational programs for the gifted outlined here are: dealing with "higher level" objectives, the development of appropriate measurement devices, and the availability of time, money, and personnel. The Key Features Evaluation System, in four steps, is described. (BW)

A criticism is made of traditional means of measuring student performance in classics, based on research which has accumulated on assessment in classics and in related subjects. (RM)

This manual describes development and use of the revised "Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students" (SRBCSS-R), a teacher judgment instrument appropriate for use as one measure in the identification of gifted students. Part 1 explains the judgmental and empirical procedures used to revise the items on the original…

Item writing is a major responsibility of trainers. Too often, qualified staff who prepare lessons carefully and teach conscientiously use inadequate tests that do not validly reflect the true level of trainee achievement. This monograph describes techniques for constructing multiple-choice items that measure student performance accurately. It…

The author discusses three methodological obstacles to the effective measurement of career maturity. These are: (1) linear versus nonlinear time functions; (2) longitudinal versus cross-sectional developmental data collection designs; and (3) maturational versus error variance on the estimation of test-retest reliability. (RP)

The purpose of this study was to gather empirical evidence to compare the reliabilities and concurrent validities of multiple choice and true-false tests that were written to measure understandings and relationships in the same content areas. (Author)