Examines the role of standardized, performance-based assessment measures in the high school context. Reports validity and reliability information on the "Communication Competency Assessment Instrument--High School Edition," which was used to assess student speaking performance and to gauge the level of improvement as a result of instruction. (SR)

This study assessed the validity and reliability of a modified, self-report version of the Autonomous Functioning Checklist for use with adults with mental retardation. Adolescents and adults (n=409) with mental retardation were interviewed. Results generally supported the instrument's validity and reliability and previous studies' findings that…

Investigates reliability and validity of speech evaluation instruments used in public speaking classes. Finds that student speeches can be evaluated reliably and validly using any of a number of different evaluation forms that address the fundamental speech constructs of content and delivery. Finds that lack of extensive rater training and…

This paper critiques the following tests of creativity: (1) the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking; (2) the Creativity Assessment Packet; (3) subtests of the Structure of the Intellect Learning Abilities Test; (4) Thinking Creatively with Sounds and Words; (5) Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement; and (6) the Khatena-Torrance Creative…

Describes Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and its junior versions, the High School Personality Questionnaire and the Children's Personality Questionnaire. Briefly describes development of the tests. Covers reliabilities and validities of the tests, with attention to applications in educational, clinical, and occupational settings.…

Components of emotional processing (communication channel, processing mode, and emotional valence) were examined in psychiatric and neurological populations, using an experimental affect battery. The test battery exhibited good psychometric properties and discriminated among diagnostic groups. (Author/JDD)

Investigated reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Career Attitude Scale (CAS), a new instrument for the measurement of career self-efficacy. Three-phase study using college students as subjects supported construct validity of CAS. Hypothesized relationships between CAS scores and measures of self-esteem and general self-efficacy were…

Assessment reforms might fail because high stakes will be attached to them too soon, judgments will be unreliable, and lawsuits will occur. Educators need to consider technical issues including score reliability, task validity, portfolio sampling, and generalizability problems. U.S. schools would improve considerably if national Advanced Placement…

Describes a revision of the Names Test, an easy-to-administer phonics assessment. Describes what was done to increase the test's category reliability, to further examine the test's validity, and to enhance its usability. (SR)

Study of metacognition in reading examined the psychometric properties of the Index of Reading Awareness. To determine reliability and validity data, researchers administered it to elementary students along with the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test-Revised. They concluded that it should be used cautiously to measure metacognition in reading. (SM)

Developed Death Anxiety Scale for Children (DASC), instrument to explore children's responses to death and dying. Constructed scale of neutral and anxiety producing words. Established validity by reading words to children and recording galvanic skin response, response time, and pulse rate. Found that children responded with greater skin resistance…

Administered Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS) and Hopkins Symptom Checklist-SCL-90-R to 27 wives who were caring for their spouses suffering from dementia. Alpha coefficient for AGS was 0.84, indicating good internal consistency. AGC was positively and significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, and hostility dimensions of SCL-90-R,…

Responses from 52 of 174 business faculty and 61 of 203 business practitioners rated important ethical concerns on a Kohlberg-influenced scale. A high degree of consistency between the two samples was found. Environmental, employment, and corporate/individual integrity issues ranked highest. (SK)

Results of 3 studies, involving 80 adult employees, 6,810 defense contractor employees, and 88 graduate students, support the reliability and validity of a new measure of global work autonomy, the Global Work Autonomy Scale (B. Ashforth and A. Saks, 1995). (SLD)

A survey of 279 undergraduates examined the validity and reliability of "The Courage to Heal Workbook" (TCHW) checklist and whether the checklist can distinguish between participants reporting sexual abuse histories and those who did not. The checklist had robust reliability and could significantly discriminate between survivors and…