The reports in this document are the results of background studies used in designing the NLSMA project, and as such may be of historical interest. Topics included are: reliability studies; analyses of grading scales; comparison of samples; creating sub-populations; test length; estimating scores; attrition rate; comparison of tests; rationale and…

New York State can set up an accountability program, but to be successful it must rest on the following principles. Teachers, schools, and districts should be responsible only for initiating the best processes of education, not for the outcomes. Judgments of accountability must be nonthreatening and must result in a cooperative effort to help…

Results of the experience gained in designing and using an autonomous computer-assisted testing system are reported, including conclusions based on more than two years testing with typical classes. In this system, definitely expandable auxiliary storage for testing items and programs or scores is provided. Cathode ray tube display of questions and…

Brief guidelines for the selection of norm referenced tests are offered. Four considerations in selecting an appropriate test are: (1) appropriateness of test content; (2) appropriateness of the norm group; (3) test reliability; and (4) ease of administration. (MH)

Guidelines for evaluating criterion-referenced tests and test manuals are proposed and applied to a sample of popular commercially published tests. The well-known Test Standards published by a joint committee of professional societies is helpful, though not completely applicable, and was used together with other sources in the preparation of an…

Currently accepted principles of communicative approaches to second language pedagogy are examined to determine the extent to which they are grounded in theories of language, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and other language-related disciplines. The discussion of communicative approaches distinguishes the notions of communicative competence…

The references in this unannotated bibliography were compiled from material available in the library of the Institiuid Teangeolaiochta Eireann (Linguistics Institute of Ireland). Most of the references were published during the seventies. They include books, journals, and microfiche. Arrangement is by subject, with an author index. Subjects…

This survey presents information on the use of tests for selecting teachers and supervisors in American schools. City and state educational jurisdictions were contacted. A summation of the responses received from responding Teacher Certification Offices is presented alphabetically by state. Twenty-five offices shared additional materials with the…

THE POSSIBILITY OF PREDICTIVE ERROR WHEN APPLYING U.S. MAINLAND NORMS FOR THE GENERAL APTITUDE TEST BATTERY TO THE EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND SELECTION PROCESS IN PUERTO RICO, PROMPTED A STUDY TO ESTABLISH LOCAL NORMS FOR THE SPANISH LANGUAGE VERSION, BATERIA GENERAL DE PRUEBAS DE APTITUD. A STRATIFIED QUOTA SAMPLE OF 1,500 PERSONS WAS SELECTED…

AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN VARIATIONS IN METHODOLOGY ON THE ANALYSIS OF EXISTING SETS OF DATA IN THE AREAS OF ABILITY OR INTELLIGENCE AND MOTOR PERFORMANCE OR PHYSICAL FITNESS. USING CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THEORY AND METHODS OF FACTOR ANALYSIS DIFFERENT TREATMENTS OF VARIOUS SETS OF DATA, THREE RELATIVELY NEW MODELS…

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES A STUDY TO DETERMINE WHETHER PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION COULD BE USED TO IMPROVE THE TEACHING OF THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH GYNECOLOGIC NEOPLASMS TO JUNIOR MEDICAL STUDENTS. TWO PROGRAMED TEXTS WERE PREPARED--(1) A "CONTENT" TEXT, AN 830-FRAME LINEARLY PROGRAMED TEXT DESIGNED TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL CLASSROOM…

This study focuses on the mental processes used during estimation. This research: (1) developed an operational definition of estimation; (2) created an instrument to identify exceptionally good estimators; (3) collected performance level data on 1187 subjects; (4) constructed interview problems and developed protocols to identify the thinking…

Analysis of "the testing rip-off" featured in the January/February 1980 issue of the NEA Reporter provides the main arguments for proposing that the latent function of the protest of the National Education Association (NEA) is not directed against testing per se. Instead, the NEA protest is a political move directed toward shifting the…

This report presents the results of a study conducted by a professional research firm in order to answer 19 evaluation questions formulated by the Illinois Office of Education. A review and assessment of primary and secondary data sources was conducted, state and local bilingual education officials were consulted, and field data in a Chicago…

The development of a diagnostic test at the Catholic University of Chile is described. The 50-item multiple choice test is used as an entrance and prerequisite test for students about to take a first university course in trigonometry and analytic geometry (MAT-111). Thirty items pertain to algebra and 20 to geometry. Each question corresponds to…