This paper describes a recently developed test battery which measures inquiry skills relevant to social studies teaching. The test is used to assess entry-level inquiry skills and to monitor student achievement progress. Field tested among Australian junior high school students, the test was shown to be reliable and valid. (BC)

Defines educational importance, multidimensionality, and economy to be essential criteria in the selection of attitude scales for curriculum evaluation. Five scales meeting the requirements are selected and tested with 1,158 Australian seventh-grade students. Scores on the attitude scales and correlations of scores with socioeconomic status,…

Reports on the development and validation of a new junior high school version of the Test On Understanding Science (TOUS).

Describes nine questionnaires for assessing student perceptions of classroom psychosocial environment, and reviews their application in past research. Focuses on outcome; innovation; student/teacher perceptual differences; achievement; teacher use of perceptions; quantitative and qualitative methods; links between environments; cross-national…

Described is the development of a test battery measuring nine enquiry skills in three general areas: using reference materials, interpreting and processing information, critical thinking in science. Validation data are reported from the administration to a large sample of junior high science students. (CS)

Describes four science attitude scales which have been developed and validated in Australian schools. The scales have satisfactory internal consistency, discriminant validity and economy--each consisting of only six to eight items. In previous use, boys exhibited significantly higher attitudes in three of four instruments. (CP)