This study was designed to investigate the construction of a new measure for assessing reading performance which would prove to be a more sensitive and useful instrument for measuring the achievement growth induced by reading programs than the usual standardized tests. This report outlines the procedures followed in generating the model and…

A HOW-to-do-it kit for educatorsinterested in measuring career path development by utilizing criterion measures with domain objectives is presented in the format of a Self-paced, career path module. A career path refers to the growth from career exploration to career identity. A module is habitually composed of four parts: objectives, pretests,…

This program, included in "Effective Reading Programs...," serves 460 students in grades one through three and includes black, white, and Spanish-surname children. Begun in 1971, the program uses the Ransom taxonomy of reading skills and Ransom criterion-referenced tests. The group tests, correlated with major basal readers, are…

Present definitions of the criterion-referenced test are discussed, insufficiences noted, and a new definition proposed. Some examples of criterion-referenced tests are examined and used to educe some general principles for the development of such tests. The utility of item form processes is assessed. It is suggested that the difficulty of…

The adequacy of a test developed for statewide assessment of basic mathematics skills was investigated. The test, comprised of multiple-choice items reflecting a series of behavioral objectives, was compared with a more extensive criterion measure generated from the same objectives by the application of a strict item sampling model. In many…

Designed to provide solutions to some of the problems related to measuring reading behavior, this publication explores some of the problems of test selection and usage which confront educators. Contents include "Reading Testing for Reading Evaluation" by Walter R. Hill, "Reading Tests and the Disadvantaged" by Thomas J. Fitzgibbon, "What Is…

The philosophical underpinnings of the typical testing practices of speech communication teachers in regard to norm-referenced measurement contain several assumptions which teachers may find untenable on closer inspection. Some of the consequences of these assumptions are a waste of human potential, inefficient use of instructional expertise,…

This experiment was designed to assess the ability of item writers to construct truly parallel tests based on a "duplicate-construction experiment" in which Cronbach argues that if the universe description and sampling are ideally refined, the two independently constructed tests will be entirely equivalent, and that within the limits of item…

Based on a rationale provided by Helson's adaptation level theory it was predicted that students would perceive items arranged in a hard-medium-easy order as being easier than the same items arranged easy-medium-hard. The evidence presented in this study generally confirmed the preceding conjecture, but also found the Ss' perceptions did not…

Bayes Theorem leads to three indexes of item effectiveness: 1) probability that an examinee knows the content given that the correct response was selected; 2) probability that an examinee does not know that content given that an incorrect response was selected; and 3) probability of making a correct decision about the examinee's knowledge given…

An attempt was made to develop and validate a Piagetian-based written test with successful use of the logic of specific Piagetian tasks defined as the criterion. Ninety-six randomly selected nine to sixteen year olds, stratified by age, were individually presented the Piagetian tasks of pendulum, balance, and combinations, and group administered a…

Livingston's work is a careful analysis of what occurs when one pools two populations with different means, but similar variances and reliability coefficients. However, his work fails to advance reliability theory for the special case of criterion-referenced testing. See ED 042 802 for Livingston's paper. (MS)

A new variant of the standard method for estimating the accuracy of educational tests is examined. It is found that the estimates produced by the new method are essentially unbiased and that the typical sizes of the errors of the estimates approach their theoretical lower limit as size increases, though they are still noticably above it for small…

the steps taken by a large urban school district to develop and implement an objectives-based curriculum with criterion-referenced assessment of student progress are described. These steps include: goal setting, development of curriculum objectives, construction of assessment exercises, matrix sampling in test administration, and reporting of…

Instruction of large groups of students in the use of audiovisual (AV) equipment presents a problem when the students' performance can only be evaluated by individual examinations on actual equipment. An attempt was made, therefore, to develop an objective, paper-and-pencil test which would provide the same evaluation. Although students in a basic…