Standardized testing for college admissions has grown exponentially since the first administration of the old "College Boards" in 1901. This paper surveys major developments since then: the introduction of the "Scholastic Aptitude Test" in 1926, designed to tap students' general analytic ability; E.F. Lindquist's creation of…

The 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), which is reviewed historically in this essay, represents a unique and significant chapter in the history of personality assessment. During the first 20 years of its existence, the 16PF underwent numerous revisions and restandardizations. During that period, R. B. Cattell, the creator of the 16PF,…

Choosing an appropriate measure of study skills is a requisite in high-quality educational programming, but the information about such tools is limited. This paper compares selected study skills measures in terms of standard psychometric properties to determine salient features of each measure. Three categories of study skills measures are…

Suggesting that too many educators and parents believe the myth of declining student literacy, this fastback puts student literacy in focus by examining trends in reading achievement from 1840 to the 1990s. The fastback discusses "then-and-now" studies, test restandardization studies, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress,…

Given the wide individual differences among any group of students and since measurements are always accompanied by errors, the question of how tests should be used in assessing the quality of an educational program is considered. The ways in which educators have dealt with this problem are reviewed, from the systematic examinations of the question…

The document presents findings from a comprehensive review of the literature on the topic of nonbiased assessment. An introductory chapter describes the review's conceptual framework. Chapters 2 through 9 present analyses of the following major aspects of the topic (sample subtopics in parentheses): historical perspectives (ancient influences,…

The experience of the speaker is applied to the changes he has seen in the field of testing over his career. Many of the concepts, issues, and controversies engaging the educational research community today had already been identified at the beginning of the speaker's career in the 1930s. A review of the literature of the past 50 years reveals one…

Briefly reviews presentations from the Invitational Conference on Curriculum (Washington, DC, June 10, 1993), on "Hidden Consequences of a National Curriculum." None of the five presenters saw a national curriculum as the solution to the nation's educational problems. Also addressed is the need for programs acknowledging perspectives of…

This paper discusses equity issues that may arise from the widespread use of high stakes computerized testing. The literature relevant to computerized testing is examined from the perspective of equity concerns from within the framework of research and from the perspective of possible uses of computerized testing if equity issues are considered…

The history and nature of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and issues that continue to be raised in the context of its use are discussed by a former president of the College Entrance Examination Board. This book provides insights into the changing role of college admissions testing since World War II; and considers the role of the SAT in…

Past research on the effects of Minimum Competency Tests (MCT) on teaching and learning is reviewed, and the large database of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is used to shed more light on these effects. There seems to be little doubt that MCT, together with associated changes in instructional methods, has produced some…

The role and influence of mandated testing in educational reform are reviewed. Mandated testing refers to large-scale (districtwide or statewide) multiple-choice testing programs used for policy purposes of evaluation and accountability, which includes nationally normed standardized achievement tests and tests custom-developed to reflect state and…

The seven articles of this issue examine the implications of the proposed use of a variety of new assessments for students and parents, schools and school personnel, the educational system, and society in general. They clarify the dilemmas that challenge educational assessment and the relationship of assessment to educational reform. (SLD)