This paper, in an attempt to develop a meaning for the term "competency" as it relates to education, begins with a brief review of the literature of competency. The authors then offer their definition: a competency is a rational performance which satisfactorily meets the objectives for a desired condition and can be categorized as (a) basic, or…

"The ERIC Review" is published three times a year and announces research results, publications, and new programs relevant to each issue's theme topic. This issue explores performance-based assessment via two principal articles: "Performance Assessment" (Lawrence M. Rudner and Carol Boston); and "Alternative Assessment:…

This paper presents an overview of current research on causal attributions for success and failure with a focus on theoretical developments since the Weiner et al (1971) paper and applications which have been made using this theoretical model. Theoretical advances include more sophisticated measurement of causal attributions, applications of the…

This bibliography presents 23 annotated citations of documents and journal articles in the ERIC system dealing with various aspects of administrator evaluation. Materials range from overviews of current administrator evaluation philosophy and practice through manuals and guides for the evaluation of the performance of principals and…

The objective of this paper is to provide the student personnel administrator with an understanding of the pluses and pitfalls of implementing management by objectives. The author discusses the following potential performance improving aspects of MBO: the establishment of goals, objectives, and results measures; participation; and the appraisal…

This annotated bibliography on performance assessment in schools lists 16 journal articles and 2 reports which were published between 1991 and 1993. Citations address the following aspects of performance assessment: conditions for alternative assessments, validity and reliability issues, accountability issues, performance assessment in science and…

This annotated bibliography contains nine items addressing assessment methodology. The titles are: "Performance and Product Evaluation"; "The Critical Incident Technique"; "Constructing Achievement Tests"; "Applying the Assessment Center Method"; "Performance Assessment in Education and Training:…

Some observations are offered about alternative assessment devices, performance assessments in particular. The act of conducting alternative assessment does not automatically ensure good assessment. Users must become knowledgeable consumers of published alternative assessment tools and developers of local and classroom assessments. Performance and…

Resources in Education, the Current Index to Journals in Education, and Psychological Abstracts were computer searched in order to identify documents and journal articles which describe the derivation, use, and misuse of grade equivalent scores, those scores which reflect a student's performance in a test or battery of tests according to grade…

Attribution Theory has led to predictions that the use of material reward may impair intrinsic motivation in the rewarded activity (decreased play effects). A review of the pertinent literature reveals, however, (a) that attribution research has failed to reliably demonstrate that decreased play effects occur in minimal-trial studies (b) that for…

Outcomes-based education (OBE) is a controversial model of educational restructuring that defines learning as what students can demonstrate that they know. This document reviews four journal articles and one bulletin that reflect a range of perspectives on OBE's potential promise and problems. In "Organizing for Results: The Basis of…

Mandatory retirement because of chronological age is coming under increasing attack and, at least in the United States, it is likely that there may soon be legislative prohibitions against forcing individuals to retire because of age. As a consequence there is renewed interest in redefining retirement criteria in terms of a functional age concept…

The literature reveals a marked decline in performance on the Visual Reproduction subtest with increasing age. Both level of education and intelligence seemed to exert a substantial influence on performance which may be significant in clinical evaluations. (Author)

Describes examples in children's literature dealing with the theme of perfection and discusses ways to engage middle school children in a discussion of this. Suggests four creative activities that can help children to realize they cannot always be perfect. Lists books and films on this topic. (AEF)

This paper reviews recent literature regarding the impact of teacher expectations on student performance. The first section reviews recent literature with respect to teacher expectations in which teacher characteristics were viewed as the dependent variable in the interaction. The focus of the second section is to review recent literature where…