Proposition analysis was used to equate the text base of two essays with different readability levels. Easier reading essays were given higher scores than difficult reading essays. The results appear to identify another noncontent influence on essay test scores, leaving increasingly less variance for differences in content. (Author/PN)

It is hypothesized that the readers of an essay respond to a variable in terms of its context with other variables. Sex, race, reader expectation, and quality of handwriting were crossed to study their interaction effects. Results showed complex interactions of expectations, writing, and sex within race. (Author/LMO)

Artificially induced expectancy of essay quality and handwriting quality of essays were shown to affect reader ratings of essay tests. There was a significant effect for expectancy, none for handwriting, and an interesting but non-significant interaction effect. (JKS)

This book provides basic skills and knowledge about assessment so that teachers can expand their ability to deal with appraisal problems in their own settings. The first section deals with the basic principles of assessment. The second section concerns creating and applying assessment tools. The third section reviews issues in understanding and…