Hearing-impaired students (n=324) in grades 9-11 were administered the Adolescent-Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences. The measure was found to be valid and reliable for measuring subjects' coping skills and for assessing students' suitability for various types of educational placements. (Author/JDD)

Examines reliability and validity of two versions of Hispanic Stress Inventory (HSI), a new instrument to assess psychosocial stress among Hispanic adults. Subscale scores found to correlate highly with criterion measures of distress. Tests showed internal consistency and supported HSI reliability. Need for further evaluation discussed. (TES)

The development, preliminary assessment, and uses of two paper-and-pencil measures of dyadic perspective-taking are described. A literature review revealed 23 perspective-taking type items each for the Self Dyadic Perspective-Taking Scale and the Other Dyadic Perspective-Taking Scale. Results for 277 college students indicate that the tests are…

The psychometric integrity of a short form of the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress was evaluated, based on data provided by 66 mothers and 66 fathers of 33 handicapped and 33 nonhandicapped preschool children. Alpha reliability, factor structure, and construct validity analyses indicated that the measure has reasonable psychometric integrity.…

Information in published articles on communicative testing is examined and discussed from the point of view of a classroom teacher. The administrability, reliability, and validity of communicative language testing are highlighted. (MSE)

The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised is a semistructured interview for caregivers of children/adults for whom autism/pervasive developmental disorders is a possible diagnosis. The interview was reorganized, shortened, and modified for children with mental ages from 18 months into adulthood. Its psychometric properties are strong for preschool…

Tests the validity of the Principle-Centered Living Survey (PCLS), which measures principle-centeredness. Results from a convenience sample (n=232) indicate that the PCLS possesses excellent internal consistency and construct validity. (JPS)

Presents reliability and validity analyses for samples of sixth- and eighth-grade students for newly constructed scales measuring adolescent alcohol use and its risk factors. Results demonstrate that young adolescents can give reliable and valid responses to self-report measures previously used with older adolescents. (JPS)

The reliability and validity of a newly constructed instrument, the Breast Self-Examination Proficiency Rating Instrument, was tested with 84 instructed and 80 uninstructed nursing students. Results support beginning reliability and preliminary validity when the instrument is used in a controlled setting. (SLD)

The Condom Attitude Scale by W.P. Saco and others (1991) was modified for use with adolescents. Four studies involving 595 African American and 52 white adolescents demonstrate acceptable internal consistency, a stable factor structure, and criterion and convergent validity with other measures conceptually related to condom use attitudes. (SLD)

Reports on the development of a test of phonemic awareness suitable for administration to young children. Compares kindergarteners' performance on a measure controlling for global similarity and another measure not controlled. Finds support for the importance of controlling for global similarity when attempting to measure phoneme invariance. (RS)

Elaborates on and responds to challenges of direct writing assessment. Speculates on future directions in writing assessment. Suggests that, if writing instructors accept that writing is a multidimensional, situational construct that fluctuates across a wide variety of contexts, then they must also respect the complexity of teaching and testing…

Discusses the development of the Family Assessment Form for use in in-home family support services at the Children's Bureau of Los Angeles, California. Focuses on details of the form, its reliability and validity, and refinements in its use. (BB)

This study describes validation data for qualitative and quantitative writing measures useful with a full range of students, including special education students, in grades three through five. The study looked for consistent administration and scoring, sensitivity in differentiating groups of students, relation to other accepted assessments, and…

Examined validity, reliability, and curvilinearity of Clinical Rating Scale and tested scale's ability to discriminate between clinical families and nonclinical families on family cohesion, adaptability, and communication. Data from two groups of problem families and two control groups supported curvilinear hypothesis that problem families are…