Many cognitive self-regulation (CSR) measures are related to the academic achievement of prekindergarten children and are thus of potential interest for school readiness screening and as outcome variables in intervention research aimed at improving those skills in order to facilitate learning. The objective of this study was to identify…

Research indicates the need to further examine the dimensions of reading motivation. A clear theoretical basis is necessary for conceptualizing reading motivation and considering contextual differences therein. The present study develops and validates the SRQ-Reading Motivation, a questionnaire measuring recreational and academic reading…

For the international Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS2007) math and science motivation scales (self-concept, positive affect, and value), we evaluated the psychometric properties (factor structure, method effects, gender differences, and convergent and discriminant validity) in 4 Arab-speaking countries (Saudi Arabia,…

The authors examined the differential effects of prior academic achievement, psychosocial, behavioral, demographic, and school context factors on early high school grade point average (GPA) using a prospective study of 4,660 middle-school students from 24 schools. The findings suggest that (a) prior grades and standardized achievement are the…

The predictive validity of six tests of academic readiness were determined for Anglo, Black, and Mexican American first-grade children from middle and lower socioeconomic status (SES) homes. The tests were most valid for Anglos; least for Blacks; and more valid for middle than for lower SES children. (Author/GDC)

Growth is estimated most accurately by procedures involving the pretest-posttest difference, and for practical purposes all estimates involving this difference have approximately equal accuracy. In particular, the simple difference between pretest and posttest scores seems about as accurate as any other estimate, easier to compute, and meaningful…

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) and Pathfinder techniques for assessing changes in the structural representation of a knowledge domain were studied with relatedness ratings collected from 72 Spanish college students. Comparison of student and expert similarity measures indicate that MDS and graph theoretic approaches are valid techniques. (SLD)

The multidimensionality of self-concept and the use of factor analysis in the development of self-concept instruments are supported in multitrait-multimethod analyses of the Sears and Coopersmith instruments. Convergent validity and discriminate validity of subscales in factor analysis and multitrait-multimethod analysis of longitudinal data are…

The relative contribution of undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to predicting academic performance in each of three years of law school was investigated. The LSAT makes its greatest contribution in early years and UGPA in later years. (Author/BW)

No meaningful differences were found for four ethnic groups (black, Spanish, Jewish, Caucasian-Gentile) in the factor structures of the CEEB Comparative Guidance and Placement Programs Battery, thus confirming its cross-ethnic factorial validity. Thus it is recommended for use in counseling and placement functions even in institutions having…

The Defining Issues Test (DIT) of moral judgment, a stage preference approach, is compared with the Moral Judgment Test (MJT) widely used in Europe. The MJT is a stage consistency test. Construct validity is defined in terms of seven types of studies, which support use of the stage preference approach. (SLD)

The relative effectiveness of three measures of teacher expectations for predicting students' achievement was studied. Teachers' perceptions of student ability and the discrepancy between teacher-perceived ability and student-tested ability were related to achievement change. The amount of improvement the teacher expected was unrelated to the…

A test of whether metacognition is a separate factor from cognition was conducted by measuring the effects of metacognitive factors in problem solving, while attempting to hold relevant cognitive factors constant. Learning disabled subjects were less skilled in metacognition with respect to knowledge about cognition and regulation of cognition.…

To examine the validity of distinguishing children with reading disabilities according to discrepancy and low-achievement definitions, 4 assessments of expected achievement and 2 of actual achievement were obtained for 199 elementary school students. Results do not support the validity of the discrepancy versus the low-achievement definition.…

Four learning-style instruments, differing in form, length, language, and conceptualization of learning style, were administered to 471 high school and community college students. All four instruments measured behaviors outlined by one conceptualization in the literature to comprise learning style, but none of the instruments measured all types of…