Levels of concept acquisition interms of attribute perception were examined for 20 different chemical concepts featuring in GCE O-level school chemistry courses. (Editor)

Describes a pencil-and-paper examination procedure that simulates the use of the computer for the evaluation of student performance in graduate research methods courses. Using this simulation, the examination can be administered in regular classrooms without the availability of computers. Includes a copy of the midterm examination. (Author/PEN)

The concept of consequential validity wrongly links the idea of the consequences of test use with the idea of validity, widely held to be rooted in the accuracy of inferences drawn from examinees' test performances. The reification of consequential validity can distract from a needed clarity about test use consequences. (SLD)

Investigates the reading process as it pertains to readers taking the Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) assessment. Examines this process through analyses of readers' eye movements. Concludes that the DRP is not an accurate measure, or even a modest approximation of, the reading comprehension process. (SG)

The estimation accuracy of procedures based on classical test score theory and item response theory (generalized partial credit model) were compared for examinations consisting of multiple-choice and extended-response items. Analysis of British Columbia Scholarship Examination results found an error rate of about 10 percent for both methods, with…

Examines whether using a combined silent reading-listening mode to administer the "Social Studies Inference Test" optimized information gathering. Finds that the combined modality produced more correct inferences than did silent reading alone. Finds only one gender difference--girls'"caution score" was higher than that for…

A student of the University of Chicago's Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis Program reflects upon Benjamin S. Bloom's professional and personal educational contributions, including mastery learning, educational equity, and educational excellence. (CB)

Discusses "Boston Massacre," an interactive tutorial game for learning about the Revolutionary War incident. Describes the development of the game and its academic uses. Includes instructions, a sample student response sheet, short answer and multiple choice examinations, and a listing of teacher resources. Reminds history teachers that…

A review of the literature indicates that the two best procedures for testing variances are one that was proposed by O'Brien (1981) and another that was proposed by Brown and Forsythe (1974). An examination of these procedures for a variety of populations confirms their robustness and indicates how optimal power can usually be obtained. (SLD)

Examines the historical course of reading-comprehension assessment practices over 25 years (from the 1970s to the mid-1990s), examining changing views of reading processes, practices, and policies. Characterizes progress in terms of political and practical constraints. Finds that, although very different formats are used today, the functions of…

Discusses the problematic future of program evaluation, especially in the field of education, in the context of testing and politics and with regard to epistemology. Evaluators must learn to focus on the complex knowledge of program coping and merit, rather than merely tracking simplistic indicator variables. (SLD)

The insightful discussions by Raudenbush, Rubin, Stuart and Zanutto (RSZ) and Reckase identify important challenges for interpreting the output of VAM and for its use with test-based accountability. As these authors note, VAM are statistical models for the correlations among scores from students who share common teachers or schools during the…

Lyle V. Jones served as director of the Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory and also became the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Graduate School of the University of North Carolina (UNC). Jones has been a Research Professor at UNC since 1992. This article presents an interview with Jones wherein he talked about his career as a researcher. Jones also…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides several funding opportunities that can assist states in designing, developing, and implementing statewide education longitudinal data systems. These new and enhanced information systems will enable states to track student progress within and across the secondary and postsecondary education…

This edition of "Beating the Odds" presents student achievement from 2008 to 2009. Individual district profiles of student achievement are presented. [For a related report, "Beating the Odds: Analysis of Student Performance on State Assessments and NAEP. Results from the 2008-09 School Year," see ED508975.]