To support the construct validity of a locally developed, sixth grade reading achievement test, an investigation of factorial invariance was made across 1556 majority, 327 Black minority, and 136 Asian minority examinees. Although the hypothesis of a unidimensional factor pattern was retained for each group, hypotheses of equal factor weights…

Educators find themselves in the position of being ordered to classify pupils for remedial and compensatory programs at the same time that some of their classifying practices are being challenged both in educational research and in court. School classifications are largely the function of testing. The task for educators is to understand the state…

A computerized adaptive testing model was assessed in a technical training system. The model, a modification of Lord's flexilevel paradigm, consisted of: the sequencing of test items in a difficulty hierarchy, adaptive entry of students into the test at a difficulty level appropriate to their predicted score, and systematic movement of students…

A study examined the construct validity of six vocational achievement tests used in the Ohio Vocational Achievement Testing Program. (Subject areas covered in the tests were agricultural mechanics, carpentry, diesel mechanics, distributive education for food services personnel, fabric services, and home economics/food service.) In order to…

In a speech on the current criticism leveled against testing programs, the speaker states that attacks on testing are partially motivated by the public's reluctance to acknowledge unpleasant truths about society's weaknesses and problems. Some of these weaknesses are described as the inadequacy of public education; the incompetence of a portion of…

This paper brings to first fruition an analytic schema based on four elements which involve a conception of skills independent or particular testing devices: (1) the development and application of a class of statistical models incorporating qualitative definitions of skill, distorted in item response by errors conceived as misclassifications; (2)…

Six essays on technical measurement problems in criterion referenced tests and four essays by psychometricians proposing solutions are presented: (1) "Criterion-Referenced Measurement" and Other Such Terms, by Marvin C. Alkin which is an overview of the first six papers; (2) Selecting Objectives and Generating Test Items for Objectives-Based…

The meaning of standardized achievement testing to 50 third-grade teachers was investigated through a construct validation procedure using questionnaires and structured open-ended interviews. Subjects were from 18 schools performing distinctly above or below prediction on the Delaware Educational Assessment Program Longitudinal Study.…

This manual for the Marianas Test of English Achievement (MTEA) provides a description of the tests, directions for administration and scoring, a discussion of the interpretation of scores, and norms based on all 1,780 children in grades 6 through 9 in the Northern Marianas Islands in October 1977 and May 1978. There are two equivalent forms of…

This manual for administrators and teachers describes The Reading Tests for New York State Elementary Schools. The tests, utilizing the Degrees of Reading Power methodology, are designed to measure the most difficult prose text a student can read with comprehension, and are administered to all sixth grade students as part of the Pupil Evaluation…

IN "AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SUITABILITY OF THE FACETED STRUCTURE OF WRU EDUCATION THESAURUS AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PREPARATION OF A THESAURUS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TERMS" THE STUDY IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED, COUNTS OF THE 1779 TERMS EXTRACTED FROM TEXTUAL MATERIAL ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ARE GIVEN BY FACETS AND SUBFACETS, AND "FREE…

A "teacher referenced" test system is discussed in terms of its development, evaluation of implementation, and final validation. This diagnostic test system for problems in primary mathematics in Holland provides reliable, applicable information about both the learning process for the classroom teacher, and diagnostic instruments and…

An advisory committee representing counselors, curriculum specialists, students, teachers, and community members should participate in selecting standardized tests for school districts. These steps should be followed: (1) identify test purpose in relation to needs and objectives--diagnosis, placement, career guidance, program evaluation; (2)…

After a period of striving for equal educational opportunity and progress toward that goal, American society is now shifting toward more emphasis on educational quality. However, some fear that the rise of Minimum Competency Testing (MCT) may hinder rather than help minority students' opportunities for equal education. Despite gains in the number…

A test was developed to assess personal self-concept values of preprimary and primary aged children. If large scale preschool programs are to be justified, effects in the areas of intellectual growth, achievement performance, and personal-social growth must be observable in children several years after preschool experience and must be measurable…