Classical test construction and analysis procedures are applicable and appropriate for use with criterion referenced tests when samples of both mastery and nonmastery examinees are employed. (Author/BB)

The basis for selection of the calibration sample determines the kind of scale which will be developed. A random sample from a population of individuals leads to a norm-referenced scale, and a sample representative of abilities of a range of characteristics leads to a criterion-referenced scale. (Author/BB)

This review looks at these changes and their impact on the quality of the instrument: alteration of age-range from 5-15 to 6-16; development of new norms; improvement of manual in format and function; and a number of old items deleted and new ones added for the subtests. (RC)

Latent partition analysis is shown to be useful in determining the conceptual homogeneity of an item population. Such item populations are useful for mastery testing. Applications of latent partition analysis in assessing content validity are suggested. (Author/JKS)

Out-of-level'' testing is the assigning of pupils to levels of a standardized test on the basis of previous test scores rather than their present grade assignment. Test results of 1500 children were reviewed to see if their performance supported the rationale behind the practice. (Author/CB)

Four definitions of cultural fairness" are critically examined. Suggestions for dealing with conflicts between the two goals of maximizing a test's validity and minimizing its culture-group discrimination, are presented. Terms in which this judgment should be made, and methods of using its results are described. (LR)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a Mexican version of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test could be improved by directly translating both forms of the American test, then using decision procedures to select the better item of each pair. The reliability of the simple translations suffered. (Author/BW)

An approach to essay grading based on signal detection theory (SDT) is presented. SDT offers a basis for understanding rater behavior with respect to the scoring of construct responses, in that it provides a theory of psychological processes underlying the raters' behavior. The approach also provides measures of the precision of the raters and the…

Validation studies of learning hierarchies usually examine whether task relationships posited a priori are confirmed by student learning data. This method was compared with a non-posited task relationship where all possible task relationships were generated and investigated. A learning hierarchy in a seventh grade mathematics study reported by…

A method for the construction of scales which combines the rational (or intuitive) approach with an empirical (item analysis) approach is presented. A step-by-step procedure is provided. (Author/JKS)

Data from a postdictive study of the tests of the Graduate Record Examination and the eight semesters of undergraduate grade averages, each semester's average being computed independently of the rest, are presented. (Editor)

Despite the numerous individual illustrations in the literature showing how the discrimination index may be used to identify items with faults, its overall effectiveness as a measure of item quality, defined in terms of the presence or absence of faults, is not clear. This study investigates its validity. (Author/RK)