This paper illustrates the application of existing guidelines to develop a test grounded in theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in the area of problem solving. By documenting this process, the paper outlines the challenges test developers face when seeking to construct a theory/research-driven test, discusses the decisions made at…

This study illustrated the use of the Rule Space Method to diagnose students' proficiencies in, skills and knowledge of statistical hypothesis testing. Participants included 96 undergraduate and, graduate students, of whom 94 were classified into one or more of the knowledge states identified by, the rule space analysis. Analysis at the level of…

Developments in school education in Australia over the past decade have witnessed the rise of national efforts to reform curriculum, assessment and reporting. Constitutionally the power to decide on curriculum matters still resides with the States. Higher stakes in assessment, brought about by national testing and international comparative…

As a result of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002, the field of education has seen a heavy emphasis on the use of "scientifically based research" for designing and testing the effectiveness of new and existing educational programs. According to NCLB, when addressing basic cause and effect questions scientifically based…

In this article, we use a dialogue format to explore the possible relevance of ideas in the hermeneutic tradition of social science for examining contemporary issues that lie at the intersection of concerns about validity and ethics in language assessment. Specifically, we focus on language testing as a socio-political-cultural practice and…

A model was developed to find out whether teachers can predict the success of their students on a specific test. Implications for curriculum development and changes in classroom instruction are discussed. (RB)

The study of English as a foreign language was especially difficult for socially disadvantaged Israeli students. A program stressing oral communication was designed for disadvantaged students who had two years of traditional English studies. The aural-oral English program proved effective. (BJG)

This article presents selected results gained by studies which deal directly or indirectly with evaluation of physics instruction at the secondary education level in the Federal Republic of Germany. (PN)

A properly chosen test model defines the kind of dependence of the observable behavior on underlying abilities of the persons tested in the form of a data-adequate theory. The limitations and potential of several test models are detailed; and they are critically compared as an aspect of empirical evaluation. (Author/MV)

School districts in the U.S. increasingly rely on standardized testing to documentstudent achievement in mathematics, reading, science, and English. Educators and policy-makers have engaged in heated debates as to the effects of such standardized testing practices on actual student achievement. In studying these issues, it is important to examine…