We present the design, statistical analysis, and validation of a questionnaire to assess students' knowledge about basic aspects of quantum mechanics (QM). The QM evaluation (QME) is a true-false and multiple-choice mixed questionnaire that features 10 two-tier items spanning three relevant themes in quantum mechanics: wave behavior of matter,…

The vast majority of second language teachers feels confident about their instructional performance and does not usually have much difficulty with their teaching thanks to their professional training and accumulated classroom experience. Nonetheless, many second language teachers may not have received sufficient training in test development to…

Logic-based measurement brings into verbal reasoning tests the inferential objectivity of numerical reasoning tests. Implications for personnel selection include performance prediction, legal defensibility of personnel selection tests, design of economical tests, and test taxonomies which sample basic inferential processes. The linkage of…

Reprinted from "The BC English Teacher, April 1969. (SW)

Many textbooks in educational measurement and classroom assessment have chapters devoted to specific item formats. There may be attempts to relate one item format to another, but the chapters and item formats are largely seem as distinct entities with only loose and uncertain connections. This paper synthesizes these discussions. An item format…

Two studies with 139 male and 149 female undergraduate students and 79 female college students, respectively, assessed the development and validation of the Need for Cognition (NFC) Scale, which has 45 true/false items. Three subscales (Cognitive Persistence, Cognitive Confidence, and Cognitive Complexity) were identified. Some results concerning…

Reasonable and practical solutions to two major problems confronting the developer of any test of educational achievement (what to measure and how to measure it) are proposed, defended, and defined. (Author/PN)

Some of the pitfalls in the construction of multiple choice tests are discussed and examples of invalid questions given. (RM)

RISK TAKING ON OBJECTIVE EXAMINATIONS (RTOOE) OCCURS WHENEVER AN EXAMINEE TAKES AN EXAMINATION WITH PENALTIES FOR INCORRECT RESPONSES, AND RESPONDS TO AN ITEM WITHOUT KNOWING THE CORRECT ANSWER WITH CERTAINTY. THIS PROJECT WAS CONCERNED WITH THREE ASPECTS OF RTOOE--(1) ITS MEASUREMENT, (2) ITS GENERALITY, AND (3) ITS EFFECT ON TEST SCORE. IN THE…

A BRIEF HISTORY IS GIVEN OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTIVE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TESTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, FROM 1916 TO THE PRESENT. THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE EARLY EFFORTS TO CONSTRUCT OBJECTIVE TESTS AND THE IMPERFECTIONS OF SOME OF THESE EXAMINATIONS. LATER TESTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CURRENT USE, ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, WITH EMPHASIS…

Discussion of the attributes of the "Canadian English Language Achievement Test ; paper presented at annual convention of Canadian Council of Teachers of English (1st, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, August 1968). (RD)

This paper provides users of teacher-made tests with a computer program designed to improve reporting of student performance on academic tasks. Test planning and construction and form and technique for reporting student performance are described. (CHK)

Objective and reliable techniques for the assessment of attention deficit disorders (ADD) with and without hyperactivity in children have remained largely unavailable to psychologists, educators and pediatricians. As a consequence, they have tended to base their evaluations of ADD solely on observations and teacher reports, or on measures such as…