Investigates the relationship between total scores on the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and the time taken to complete it. Finds that slower test takers obtained significantly higher scores. Discusses implications of these findings for college instruction. (SG)

Suggests that second language learners could benefit from being made aware of the semantic components that unify verbs that display a certain syntactic behavior and the semantic components that exclude other verbs from participating in this behavior. Findings of a study in which production and judgment data on the behavior of "change of state" and…

Explores relationships among test-taker characteristics and test performance. Suggests test-taking strategies play a role in mediating between test taker characteristics and performance. Findings suggests that if classroom teachers were able to determine what their students are doing while taking tests and were able to apply those strategies that…

Examines student responses to a questionnaire that investigated student perceptions of behaviors that may positively or negatively affect test performance. Surveys undergraduate students (n=340) whose examination grades had risen or declined a minimum of one full letter grade from one examination to the next. (CMK)

Reviews materials from Multiscore, a criterion-referenced testing service which produces tests tailored to particular schools or districts from its item bank of more than 20,000 multiple-choice items. Discusses technical considerations, use of Multiscore in local school districts, and evaluation and conclusions. (SR)

The message that campuses must use the data they are gathering about students to improve teaching and learning was presented at a conference on Assessment in Higher Education. More campuses are developing their own assessment tools rather than relying solely on standardized tests. Classroom assessment allows faculty to evaluate their own teaching.…

Responds to five major articles by Duckworth, Goldman, Healy, Sampson, and Goodyear on issues pertaining to testing and assessment in counseling psychology. Notes that assessment of the person is incomplete unless it includes assessment of environment, and discusses the role of assessment in problem solving. (TE)

Examines test scores of students who selected a chapter-by-chapter testing program, and those who chose unit (four-chapter) testing. Findings show neither option associated with superior performance, unlike earlier studies. Suggests instructors allow their students to choose their preferred testing option. (NL)

Provides an annotated bibliography for art education. Includes the following areas of interest: educational evaluation, tests and measurements, philosophical and aesthetic issues in art evaluation, and testing and evaluation in the visual arts. (GG)

Describes the Dutch educational assessment system. Lists a number of critical remarks relative to the problems found in this assessment program. Suggests principles upon which a better examination system could be based. Points out ways in which this model would eliminate psychometric, educational, and political objections to the examination…

Presents an overview of two approaches for the maintenance of standards and explores the psychometric aspects of each. In the first approach, tests items are a fixed factor. In the second, two or more examinations can be constructed in advance. Suggests using the Rasch model to evaluate both approaches. (KO)

Suggests that a positive and negative nomination sociometric has no negative effects on school-age children's social interactions or reports of negative mood state or loneliness. Results of a debriefing questionnaire were generally consistent with previous reports that children enjoy participating in studies involving sociometrics. (RH)

Describes IBM's programatic research effort to find out whether new, internally developed training technologies increased knowledge and retention. (JOW)

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)

A three-year study yielded data on the characteristics and progress of 44 preschool children with developmental delays of uncertain etiology. Findings support the use of traditional developmental tests for assessing developmental status. Analyses across time suggest that three assessments are needed before confident prediction is possible about…