Performance based assessment is currently receiving renewed attention as an alternative to conventional testing. We argue that performance based assessment, supported by a microcredentialing system, is particularly well suited to corporate environments that stress strategic development of their workforce capacities. There are important…

School nursing practice has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, yet few nationally representative investigations describing the school nursing workforce have been conducted. The National School Nurse Workforce Study describes the demographic and school nursing practice patterns among self-reported public school nurses and the number and…

In the world of campus IT hiring, think of certifications as the equivalent of the SATs. They're just one component of the overall application, along with the interview, past performance, and references. If the candidate is accomplished and well rounded, the SATs--or certifications--can be more of a checklist item. Otherwise, they may make the…

School impact media studies indicate that a well-staffed and funded school library media program with a certified school library media specialist (SLMS) positively correlates with increased student achievement. SLMS must have a shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities to positively impact student success. In an effort to determine…

A statewide cadre of principal certification students (N = 516) completed a principal job survey and role-played as applicants for a principal position by completing a principal job evaluation instrument. Significant predictors of principal job rating included the following: self-reported capability to do the job, expected satisfaction with work…

Offers recommendations for the conduct of practice analysis (i.e., job analysis) concerning these issues: (1) selecting a method of practice analysis; (2) developing rating scales; (3) determining the content of test plans; (4) using multi-variate procedures for structuring test plans; and (5) determining topic weights for test plans. (SLD)

"In his commentary to our paper on the use of knowledge, skill, and ability statements in developing credentialing examinations (Wang, Schnipke, & Witt, 2005 )," Dr. LaDuca set forth his concerns while commending our paper for providing helpful insights into the importance of careful delineation of KSAs. We believe that there is little substantive…

Reports on efforts by the Institute for the Certification of Engineering Technicians and the Engineering Technologists Certification Institute to construct job task inventories for all major fields of engineering technician/technologist occupations. (CP)

Reviews general approaches to job analysis and considers methodological issues related to sampling and the development of rating scales used to measure and describe a profession or occupation. Evaluates the usefulness of different types of test plans and describes judgmental and empirical methods for using practice analysis data to help develop…

An information technology certification program was evaluated by 1,671 systems engineers using job analysis that rated task importance. Professional librarians (n=527) rated importance of their tasks in similar fashion. Results of scatter diagrams provided evidence to enhance training effectiveness by focusing on job tasks significantly related to…

Questionnaires concerning the nature of work performed and the work setting, plans for continuing formal education, and opinions regarding the relevancy of training received were sent to all individuals (3,282) certified by the Board of Certified Laboratory Assistants (CLA's) since certification began in 1965. Some findings from the 970 returned…

Three papers describe the three stages of developing the National Teacher Examination (NTE) School Psychologist Specialty Area Test. The first stage is described in the paper entitled "Knowledge Areas Important to School Psychology." A survey of the membership of the National Association of School Psychologists helped determine knowledge…

A random selection of superintendents in Texas school districts with student populations of 500 to 50,000 was surveyed and a search made of the literature to determine the desired characteristics of those in the role of assistant superintendent of instruction. The information collected showed preferences concerning the field of specialization,…

Based upon the structure of Canadian Classification and Dictionary of Occupations, the volume presents highly condensed descriptions of classification clusters representing the universe of occupational groups in the Canadian economy. It is a useful tool for vocational counselors, students, and clients. Each cluster is assigned a number; the…

Studied methods for structuring a performance domain for a certification test in emergency nursing based on task frequency ratings from 659 emergency nurses or task similarity ratings from 21 experts. A 125-job analysis survey was used. Similarity judgment results are more easily interpreted and adequately modeled by multivariate analysis. (SLD)