Recently, Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) completed a study to connect the scale of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) Testing Program used for Minnesota's mathematics and reading assessments with NWEA's RIT (Rasch Unit) scale. Information from the state assessments was used in a study to establish performance-level scores on…

A brief note presenting algebraically equivalent formulas for the variances of three error types. (Author)

As an alternative for or adjunct to paper-and-pencil tests for predicting personnel performance, the United States Air Force studied the use of peer ratings as an evaluative tool. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of peer ratings among Air Force basic trainees. Peer ratings were obtained from more than 27,000…

This report describes the stratified adaptive (stradaptive) test as a strategy for tailoring an ability test to individual differences in testee ability; administration of the test is controlled by a time-shared computer system. The rationale of this method is described as it derives from Binet's strategy of ability test administration and…

To forecast four-year, two-year, and single-course grades in college, a California Psychological Inventory equation was developed. Cross-validational coefficients for scores on the equation were .38 for 326 males and .36 for 570 females. (Author/GDC)

The purpose of this research was to further study the breadth and depth dimensions of the WAIS similarities and vocabulary subscales by factor analyzing several measures of intelligence: a comprehension index, SAT scores, and grade point average (GPA). (Author/SJL)

Differential achievement growth patterns between comparison groups is a problem associated with data analysis in compensatory education programs. Children in greatest need of additional assistance, are usually assigned to the program rather than to an alternative treatment so that the comparison groups may vary in several ways, in addition to the…

A procedure for scoring multiple-choice tests by assigning different weights to every option of a test item is investigated. The weighting method used was based on that proposed by Davis, which involves taking the upper and lower 27% of a sample, according to some criterion measure, and using the percentages of these groups marking an item option…

An elementary survey of item characteristic curve theory, centered around the problems of individualized (tailored) testing, is presented. Following the introduction, discussions are provided of the following: Test Theory for Itemized Tests; The Guttman Scale; Item Characteristic Curve Theory; An Alternative Model; Specialization, Application, and…

In order to develop tools for use in the selection and vocational-educational guidance of U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen, three empirically-based scales, designed using the Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB), were developed to predict three criteria: (1) disenrollment for academic reasons, (2) disenrollment for motivational reasons, and (3)…

Four systems for scoring student essays were used to classify eleventh grade and undergraduate students according to writing ability. The reliabilities of the raters and the validities of the systems in classifying students were emphasized. Two analytic scoring systems--which assume that quality writing is characterized by the inclusion of certain…

Normal curve equivalent achievement gains estimates were compared with RMC Title I evaluation Models A1 and B1. The comparison focused upon the amount of bias introduced by Model A1 when its underlying assumptions were violated. The model assumes, first, that the local school population is accurately represented by the national norm group; and…

To improve the accuracy of college placement, Rasch scoring and person-fit statistics on the Comparative Guidance and Placement test (CGP) was compared to the traditional right-only scoring. Correlations were calculated between English and mathematics course grades and scores of 1,448 entering freshmen on the reading, writing, and mathematics…

A sample of 260 colleges was surveyed during the years 1972-1976 to determine the validity of predicting college freshmen grades from standardized test scores and high school grades using the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment Program, an evaluative and placement service for students and educators involved in the transition from high school…