In this research, we investigated the feasibility of implementing the "e-rater"® scoring engine as a check score in place of all-human scoring for the "Graduate Record Examinations"® ("GRE"®) revised General Test (rGRE) Analytical Writing measure. This report provides the scientific basis for the use of e-rater as a…

In this study, we investigated whether preequating results agree with equating results that are based on observed operational data (postequating) for a college placement program. Specifically, we examined the degree to which item response theory (IRT) true score preequating results agreed with those from IRT true score postequating and from…

Assessing student attainment in the major field of study is increasingly important to employers and accrediting bodies alike. Construction and manufacturing firms do not like engineers who design faulty bridges and airplanes. Marketing firms want to hire students who understand the difference between a niche market and a global market. School…

The Graduate Record Examinations Committees for French, Philosophy, and English Literature participated in an investigation of the feasibility of conducting validity studies of the GRE using a common criterion task. It was determined that such a study was not feasible. However some committee members suggested that many graduate departments used…

A wide variety of potential indicators of graduate student performance are reviewed. Based on research literature, experience with recent and current research projects, and conversations with graduate faculty members and administrators, the various indicators are considered in two ways. First, they are analyzed within the framework of the…

This paper examines whether graduate record examination (GRE) scores are a legitimate assessment tool for measuring institutional accountability and effectiveness that is, how well its graduates will do after having attended the institution for four or more years. Following a discussion of the various pros and cons of using the GRE as an…

Thirty eight studies which employed Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores in predicting success in graduate study are reviewed. The report is presented in four sections--summary of findings by major field of study (23 different major fields); 21 studies employing varied criteria of success; 13 studies employing grade-point average as the…

One or more graduate departments from ten schools participated in studies of six different disciplines: chemistry, English, history, philosophy, physics, and psychology. Subjects were students who first enrolled for graduate study in these departments between 1957 and 1960. Predictor data obtained for the students included scores on the Graduate…

Rating scales of the "scaled behavioral expectation" type were developed to measure the constructs of independence and initiative, conscientiousness, enthusiasm, critical facility, teaching skills, research and experimentation, communication, and persistence. The scales were used by faculty in three psychology departments, two chemistry…

Four writing samples were obtained from 638 foreign college applicants who represented three major foreign language groups (Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish), and from 60 native English speakers. All four were scored holistically, two were also scored for sentence-level and discourse-level skills, and some were scored by the Writer's Workbench…