When selecting standardized reading tests for purposes of decision making, the school psychologist must answer several questions, such as "What reading skills do I wish to assess?" or "How do I judge if the test is technically adequate?" Recommendations for test selection are made within the context of these questions.…

THIS IS A METHODOLOGICAL STUDY TO DETERMINE IF RELIABLE AND VALIDLY COMPARABLE DATA CAN BE OBTAINED FROM SCALES DESIGNED FOR USE WITH HEARING IMPAIRED, VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND NON-IMPAIRED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE MAJOR INSTRUMENTS ASSESSED SELF CONCEPT OF ACADEMIC ABILITY. IT WAS CONCLUDED ON THE BASIS OF CROSS-VALIDATION AND OTHER ANALYTICAL…

It is argued that achievement test means, based on group scores, or other district-wide summary scores do not provide valid measures for diagnosing curriculum weaknesses nor for initiating curriculum changes. Group scores are probably valid for some purposes, but should not be used as criterion variables for evaluating the effectiveness of…

It is asserted in this paper that some standardized tests do not do a good job of what they claim to do, and for some testing purposes nonstandardized tests are more appropriate or efficient. Under present circumstances, group I.Q. tests should be abolished. They provide no useful information that cannot be gained from achievement tests. And what…

The development of two new rating scales, a classroom observation schedule and a comparable student self-report questionnaire, is described. Both instruments are designed to measure group self-concept, defined as a social structure exhibiting interactions which indicate values, attitudes, and beliefs that determine the self-perception of a group,…

This study investigated the "customization" of a standardized achievement test to measure the effect on group and individual scores. "Customization" refers to the modification of an existing test to more closely match test specifications of the entity using the test, usually a state or large school district. Results of an…

Positive approaches to increase student achievement in language classes focus on the potential influence of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. The author cites instances to prove that teacher efficiency increases when teachers are held responsible for student achievement. Discussion of success factors relates testing practices…

Utilizing eight apprentices in the mentals trades, this study empirically evaluated a number of techniques designed to produce performance tests that are economically feasible, reliable, content-valid, and less disadvantageous to minority group members than paper-and-pencil measures. The final test was economically feasible, reliable with respect…

In this analysis of intelligence testing of minority group children, the implications of inadequate testing practices are discussed. Several aspects of test design are examined: deficiencies in intelligence testing, cultural bias, construct validity, and diagnostic utility. A sample set of results derived from a Stanford-Binet test administered to…

Adult educators in the state of New Jersey have expressed concern about the adequacy of the 1978 General Educational Development (GED) test. Based on these concerns research was conducted in the use and applicability of the current GED test. The project investigated whether the existing GED test was meeting the needs of the large majority of GED…

The Micro-TOWER System of Vocational Evaluation was developed in response to the need for a revision of the TOWER (Testing, Orientation, and Work Evaluation in Rehabilitation) System. The Micro-TOWER system of work sample tests measures the major aptitudes required for most semi-skilled and unskilled occupations. It may be used as a screening…

"Educational Measurement" has been the bible in its field since the first edition was published by ACE in 1951. The importance of this fourth edition of "Educational Measurement" is to extensively update and extend the topics treated in the previous three editions. As such, the fourth edition documents progress in the field and…