The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of assessment method (essays vs. examinations) and instruction method (seminars vs. lectures) on student perceptions of the fairness of the assessment process. Department-specific combinations of these factors give a unique profile to the assessment process and to the way students interact with…

Critics of testing for admission purposes cite the moderate correlations of admissions test scores with success in college. In response, this study applies formulas from classical measurement theory to observed correlations to correct for restricted variances in predictor and success variables. Estimates of the correlations in the population of…

For idealized item configurations, equal item weights are often virtually as good for a particular predictive purpose as the item weights that are theoretically optimal. What has not been clear, however, is what happens to the similarity when the item configuration's variance structure is complex. (Author/CTM)

This study identifies critical elements of the front dive half-twist that judges are likely to look for when they score springboard diving competitions. Videotapes of divers at a 1979 intercollegiate diving meet were made and analyzed, using grid scoring procedures, to isolate components of the dives that would help predict judges' scores.…

A simulation study was designed to assess the severity of regression effects when a set of selection scores is also used as pretest scores as this pertains to RMC Model A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I evaluation and reporting system. Data sets were created with various characteristics (varying data reliability and…

Census data were used to predict average district scores on standardized achievement tests for grades one, two, three, six, and twelve, in 716 California school districts. The following census variables were used: education, income, college, poverty (families); poverty (children); professional occupations; housing; Spanish surnames; and Black.…

The relative validity of adaptive and conventional testing strategies using non-test variables as one set of external criteria was investigated. A total of 101 college students completed both a variable length stradaptive test and peaked conventional test; a second group of 131 college students completed a variable length Bayesian adaptive test…

Since the mean score for a sample composed of several subgroups can be viewed as the sum of the mean of each subgroup weighted by the proportional size of the subgroup, then the mean change in a time period--in this case, from 1972 to 1980--is the sum of the differences between the means for each subgroup, with each mean weighted by its…

The Statewide Assessment Program of the Florida State Department of Education is responsible for measuring student achievement and disseminating the assessment results. One dimension of this effort has been the development of predicted or adjusted school scores. These scores are based on several factors which are related to achievement. Among…