In this study, the literature in disability and higher education was examined, with a specific focus on assessment instruments. Published articles (n = 203) on development of new or refinement of existing instruments were reviewed for traits measured and psychometric rigor reported. Findings showed instruments are intended for professionals and…

There is a lively discussion on how to evaluate competence-based higher education in both evaluation and competence research. The instruments used are often limited to course evaluation or specific competences, taking a rather narrow perspective. Furthermore, the instruments often comprise predetermined competences that cannot be adapted to higher…

Assessed the consistency of classification of depression in college students in two studies. The stability of the Beck Depression Inventory was tested after one day, one week, and using subsequent responses for subjects retested the same day. Results showed repeated administration resulted in a decline of high scores. (JAC)

Administered the SI scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and several measures typically used in social skills and assertiveness training research to college students (N=218). Results demonstrated acceptable reliability and support for the utility of the subscales of the SI scale of the MMPI. (LLL)

Investigated the relationship of math anxiety to test anxiety in 769 college students. Results indicated nonequivalent internal consistency and test-retest reliability for three math anxiety measures tested and small but significant sex differences in anxiety. Math anxiety measures were more closely related to each other than to test anxiety. (WAS)

This study evaluated the usefulness of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) in the medical assessment of college students. The MAST was administered randomly to 200 students at a student health center and was found to be useful as part of individual health assessments. (Author/MT)

A study of the usefulness of a comprehensive placement examination for individualizing the experiential course sequence for pharmacy students and providing needed remediation in selected subject areas found that the test could not be supported for preclinical screening but might be useful for identifying students needing remediation. (MSE)

A study explored the construct of mental restlessness in 20 college students with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using the Internal Restlessness Scale (IRS). Students with ADHD reported significantly higher ratings of internal restlessness. The IRS appears to have adequate test-retest reliability and a four-factor…

Aspects of the new Employee Polygraph Protection Act are discussed, including exemptions, prohibited devices, limitations, exceptions, injury and access requirements, reasonable suspicion, drug industry investigations, procedural requirements, disclosure, basis for discharge, enforcement and remedies, and preemption and existing state laws. (MSE)

This paper presents analyses of score reliability for a mathematics placement test developed by the Mathematical Association of America in 1984 for use with undergraduate college students. Subjects included all 589 students seeking admission to the college mathematics curricula at a private university in the South during the course of the study.…

A study investigated observable differences in results, not attributable to student competence, in administrations of the same 16-station clinical skills screening examination (Ontario International Medical Graduates Program) to approximately 200 foreign medical graduates and University of Toronto fourth-year medical students. Results indicated…

A study analyzed scores on placement tests and academic performance of over 1,800 first-year students at an urban public university. Results indicate that basic skills placement tests measured academic preparation more accurately than the American College Testing program and that standardized and local tests showed only moderate reliability,…

A study investigated the use of a narrative discourse task to test oral English proficiency in non-native speakers for screening and placement. The subjects were Japanese university freshmen entering a five-level course in spoken English. The subjects were shown an animated cartoon of a Japanese folk tale, with narration in Japanese, and later…

This paper presents the results of a search for an appropriate test of critical thinking to screen college freshmen. The search for an appropriate test of critical thinking was initiated in the Fall 1995 semester at an open-admissions comprehensive university, which normally assigns entering freshmen with ACT composite scores of 17 or less to…

A study examined screening measures that are used to predict whether a student will teach after graduation from an agricultural education program. The population for the study consisted of 72 student teachers studying in the Department of Agricultural Education at the University of South Florida from 1977 to 1982. Before starting student teaching,…