Public examinations and matriculation policy in Western Australia are studied during four periods of development: (a) an establishment phase (1890 to 1919), (b) a stage of entrenchment (1920 to 1939), (c) a decade of abortive reform movements (1940 to 1950), and (d) a final phase of major changes during the 1960's. (Editor)

Presents five guidelines designed to minimize the testing problems that school administrators face. (Author)

The results show that the delay-retention effect occurs under conditions approximating those of real instruction and confirm the interference-perseveration interpretation of the phenomenon. (Author)

UNFAVORABLE RESULTS IN GRADING ESSAYS, PARTICULARLY THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BOARD GENERAL COMPOSITION TEST, LED TO THE STUDY. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT PROGRESS IN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF ESSAYS WOULD BE MADE, BY MEANS OF A FACTOR ANALYSIS OF THE JUDGMENTS OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF COMPETENT READERS IN AN UNSTRUCTURED SITUATION. IT WAS HOPED THAT…

THIS IS A SURVEY OF THE ATTITUDES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COUNSELORS TOWARD STANDARDIZED TESTS. A SAMPLE OF 9,148 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 10 AND 12 DRAWN FROM 75 PUBLIC, 9 PRIVATE, AND 10 PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS WAS SURVEYED CONCERNING STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD STANDARDIZED TESTS. IN ADDITION, 1,754 TEACHERS AND 188 COUNSELORS…

THE PROBLEM OF THIS RESEARCH WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF FREQUENCY OF WRITING AND INTENSITY OF TEACHER EVALUATION UPON PERFORMANCE BY STUDENTS OF VARYING ABILITIES. THE STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE EIGHT 10TH-GRADE CLASSES WITH TWO TEACHERS FOLLOWING FOUR DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO INTENSITY OF TEACHER EVALUATION AND FREQUENCY OF WRITING.…

This booklet is written in non-technical language and focuses on educational testing issues currently of interest to parents. Some of the questions parents commonly ask about tests are identified and answered. Questions include: (1) What are tests and why are they used?; (2) How are they used?; (3) How many different kinds of tests are there?; (4)…

It is argued that, by design, norm-referenced tests (NRT) and criterion-referenced tests (CRT) are conceived with different frames of reference. They are not totally exclusive of each other, but they do direct attention to different uses and references for information and decision making. Their combined contributions allow a more detailed and…

Recommendations of an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee relating to standardized testing in a state educational system are presented. The paper first discusses the concepts of measurement, evaluation, and standardized testing. Then follows discussions of Test Development, Qualifications of Test Users, General Use of Tests, The Use of Standardized Tests…

Describes the SOCRATES Computer-Assisted Test Retrieval system available to the faculty and students of the California State University and Colleges. (Author/IRT)

Q factor analysis is found appropriate for use in clinical or educational situations where available typologies or scales seem inadequate, where the psychological dynamics of learning or treatment are not well understood, or where it is desirable to avoid anticipating the precise direction and character of program impact. (Author/BJG)

What effect is the "back to basics" movement having on American teachers and schools? Are the media and the politicians taking the public for a ride? Reports on the controversies surrounding such issues as standards, testing and accountability. (Editor)

Citing test scores as evidence of student achievement ignores the value of curricular areas in which knowledge cannot be measured objectively. Educators and parents who criticize the effectiveness of public education often do so on the basis of test scores rather than in terms of alternative, subjective educational goals. (PGD)

Provides a brief chronology of events which took place in the development of the statewide eighth grade assessment of history/social science in California. Describes the content of the tests and lists the names of the individuals who served on the various development committees. (JDH)