The relative utility of premedical grade point average in distinguishing among prospective medical students and predicting medical school performance was evaluated in students from two medical school graduating classes. The measure was found susceptible to several extraneous sources of variance that negate its effectiveness. (MSE)

Uses a laboratory experiment involving role-playing groups to show that an assigned majority rule is likely to lead to higher-quality solutions than unanimity and no-decision rule. Results indicated under majority rule workers resistance to the foreman's power often resulted in a successful search for a better solution. (JAC)

Studies examine the validity of a desired control measure upon a survey of senior citizens to establish what contributes to their psychological adjustment. Desired control correlates with psychological adjustment, indicating that seniors who feel more in control of everyday events will be better adjusted. (Author)

The results of a replication study are described that tested the predictive validity of a 34-item instrument designed to assess the fundamental constructs of Tinto's model of college student attrition. Potential institutional differences in faculty members' influence on retention were identified. (Author/MLW)

Studied the effect of different base rates of a target phenomenon on psychometric efficiency when an explicit decision-making rule was used to evaluate police officers. Concluded that numerous predictive indices would be required to screen such a heterogeneous population. (Author/JAC)

Argues against the implicit use of readability formulas as guides to writing graded texts and urges experimental research to define the real factors constituting readability. (AEA)

Results of the differences between cross-lagged panel correlations and of the consistency of them for 2,429 students within the first eight grades suggested that attitudes toward mathematics is causally predominant over mathematics achievement for what variance is shared in common. (Author/GK)

The merits of double exponential smoothing are discussed relative to other types of pattern-based enrollment forecasting methods. The basic assumptions and formulas for its use are outlined. The difficulties associated with selecting an appropriate weight factor are discussed, and the potential effect on prediction results is illustrated.…

The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) was administered to 80 urban black preschoolers. Five years later, 68 of these children were retested. This investigation demonstrated the predictive validity of the MSCA for urban black children against several criterion measures, including scores on elementary school reading tests. (Author/GK)

Responds to the Nader report on the Educational Testing Service authored by Nairn. Major themes of the nine chapters of the report are addressed. The last sections provide comment on the responses of the Educational Testing Service. (RC)

Vocational scales other than those describing the occupational group in question may often predict job performance. A case is reported using Holland's Self Directed Search and two groups of policemen. Scores on the Artistic and Conventional scales consistently predict effective performance as a patrolman. (Author)

Presents and tests the verbal-plan approach as a basis for predicting verbal behavior. (Defines verbal plan as "what an individual intends to say in a specific situation or a general situation.") (PD)

As predicted, high-oral clients showed better understanding of their counselor's personal qualities than did low-oral clients. Orality produced a need to observe the counselor closely. Female clients of male counselors make the best predictors. (Author)

The mean IQ on the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) was substantially higher than expected based on the earlier Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) scores. Sampling error and examiner error were excluded as explanations. Results suggest that the PPVT and SIT yield different scores and lack comparability. (Author)

The cognitive profile is a basic determinant of a student's level of academic achievement and can identify learning defects contributing to low achievement. (Author/JD)