The goal of this study was the development of a procedure to predict the equating error associated with the long-term equating method of Tate (2003) for mixed-format tests. An expression for the determination of the error of an equating based on multiple links using the error for the component links was derived and illustrated with simulated data.…

The College Board's Advanced Placement European History examination has evolved over the course of its first half-century of existence in virtually all respects: the types and subject matter of questions asked (and not asked); the nature of the history those questions reflect; the number of questions both offered and to be answered, as well as how…

Purpose: In conjunction with curricular changes, a process to develop integrated examinations was implemented. Pre-established guidelines were provided favoring vignettes, clinically relevant material, and application of knowledge rather than simple recall. Questions were read aloud in a committee including all course directors, and a reviewer…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of response modes by item and feedback type in a web-based language learning program. The subjects of this study, 122 Korean tenth graders learning English as a foreign language, were placed into groups of four and were given a web-based language learning program consisting of two…

This study utilized early reading assessment data from a randomized trial of 210 urban and rural schools in Texas to examine contextual effects on risk prediction in first and second grade. The primary objective was to examine the roles of (a) individual differences, (b) the grade 1 classroom, and (c) the pairing of first and second grade teachers…

This digest offers tips on designing questionnaires and on avoiding common design errors. The following useful suggestions are offered: (1) keep the questionnaire brief and concise; (2) get feedback on the initial list of questions developed; (3) locate personal or confidential questions at the end of the questionnaire; (4) put categories in…

A study analyzed the validity of inferential, cause/effect, and main idea questions which were asked in five selected commercial informal reading inventories (IRIs). The inventories were "Analytical Reading Inventory (3rd Edition),""Basic Reading Inventory (4th Edition)"; "Burns and Roe Informal Reading Inventory (3rd…

This study utilized a test, re-test procedure to investigate what effects a change in the order, or sequence, of test items would have on student performance. College juniors (n=102) were given a 50-item multiple-choice and matching item test on the general subject of educational measurement. The items had no particular sequence, but had simply…

The type of cognitive processing most beneficial to memory may depend on the structure of the material and the type of retrieval test required. Relational encoding organizes words by their relationships, while item-specific encoding processes words on an individual basis. To obtain information on these cognitive processes as they relate to the use…

Suggested accommodations for mainstreamed secondary learning disabled students on teacher made tests are presented. Suggestions are grouped into general; format; and test taking modifications (presentation, recording, and scoring). Among the many suggestions made are the following: watch readability of questions; assure test is clearly printed;…

Examining the effects of spelling tests on spelling achievement, a study compared two methods of spelling evaluation: (1) the dictated word-sentence-word method, requiring students to write only the spelling words; and (2) the dictated-sentence method, requiring students to write entire sentences containing the spelling words. Two fourth-grade…

The method for questionnaire construction described in this paper makes it convenient to generate as many different forms for a questionnaire as there are respondents. The method is based on using the computer to produce the questionnaire forms themselves. In this way the items or subgroups of items of the questionnaire may be randomly ordered or…

A general model for the homogeneous case of the continuous response is proposed. The model is an expansion and generalization of the one proposed by the author in 1974, in which the open response situation is dealt with. In this generalized model, the closed response situation is dealt with, and it includes the model for the open response…

The purpose of this handbook is to acquaint principals and teachers with the California Achievement Tests, mandated by the Maryland State Department of Education. Reports of the test results are also discussed. The first chapter describes the test and provides examples of question formats. A table of the objectives measured is also included. The…

Two approaches to criterion-referenced measurement are described and contrasted--domain-referenced testing and mastery testing. This paper is organized according to ten issues or stages in test construction: (1) content domain specification; (2) item construction; (3) item domain specification; (4) item analysis; (5) item selection; (6) parallel…