The proper use of psychological tests requires that the measurement instruments have adequate psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity, and that the professionals who use the instruments have the necessary expertise. In this article, we present the first review of tests published in Spain, carried out with an assessment model…

The article "Thinking About Linking" by Newton (2010) presents a novel philosophical perspective on the way that educational assessments should be linked. Newton starts by describing the linking framework as it was characterized in various publications and identifies a cross-cultural dimension in the definitions and uses of test…

This collection of essays by measurement specialists addresses a variety of important issues in educational and psychological testing. Although not all of the "rules" are new, many topics of contemporary interest are discussed, some in detail that exceeds what the psychologist and educator really need to know. (SLD)

In a confidence weighting situation, the examinee is asked to indicate the correct answer, and how certain he or she is of the correctness of that answer. This paper reviews the bases for confidence marking, its validity and accuracy in evaluating students, and it's use in research. (BW)

In determining what will best help learning, the timeliness and possible reversibility of teachers' decisions are influenced by standardized achievement tests. Ways tests can supplement other performance information and confirm or challenge teachers' impressions of student achievement are described. (CM)

A number of theoretical and practical issues are explored that need to be considered in the design of assessments that use group collaboration to be sure that collaboration works toward, rather than away from, the purpose of the assessment. The traditional purpose of assessment has been to measure individual competence of students in thinking…

This annotated bibliography lists works pertaining to tests and measurement. Three guides to commercially published tests are described briefly as follows: (1) the "Mental Measurements Yearbooks" published by the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements; (2) "Tests: A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education,…

This paper seeks to identify ways of making measurement more relevant to classroom teachers, and making classroom realities more apparent to measurement specialists. Measurement elements of teacher education textbooks and courses, nontraditional assessment topics, informal classroom measurement techniques, terminological issues, and three types of…

The use of a questionnaire to learn of student reactions to their own test behavior, perceived test characteristics, and several aspects of the testing situation for a university psychometric entrance examination is analyzed, and other practical applications of such tests are considered. The questionnaire is included. (MSE)

The use of performance assessments in accountability programs is discussed. Performance assessments have the potential to measure important objectives not easily measured by multiple-choice tests. Nevertheless, they are not suitable for every purpose, and their use should not be oversold. Many psychometric issues remain to be resolved. (SLD)

This book is intended to introduce the classroom teacher and prospective teacher to the elements of measurement and assessment that are essential to good teaching. The main theme is that assessment plays an important role in the instructional process. This edition has been revised to reflect major changes in educational assessment since the last…

Stresses the need to abolish IQ testing in the schools because such tests serve no purpose and block the implementation of other strategies that can benefit students. A shift to Binet's remedial paradigm is recommended as essential to allow testing and assessment that benefits all students. (SM)

We examine the equivalence of two construct-a-concept-map techniques: construct-a-map with created linking phrases (C), and construct-a-map with selected linking phrases (S). The former places few constraints on the respondent and has been considered the gold standard; the latter is cost and time efficient. Both their products and processes are…

Current successes and failures in U.S. educational measurement are reviewed, focusing on criterion-referenced testing. Pluses and minuses are listed for the following: (1) the move toward authentic assessment; (2) the dominance of criterion-referenced assessment; and (3) item response theory applications. Each area is a double-edged sword. (SLD)

Assessment and testing associated with implementation of the national curriculum developed by the British Department of Education and Science (London) are reviewed. Topics addressed include: profile components in the assessment framework, assessment and testing methods, bias in assessments, assurance of confidence in national assessment,…