Just as the Grey Squirrel and the Little Owl were brought to England by well-intentioned enthusiasts so also are well meaning educational enthusiasts anxious to import attainment tests from America. In the former case the results were disastrous for ecology and this research stresses some of the lessons to be learned from the American experience…

Discusses what evaluation is and presents a theoretical framework for planning and conducting educational evaluation. Also includes an extensive annotated bibliography. (SL)

Describes Phase Four (contextualized literacy assessment) in the evolution of writing assessment, which would replace accountability approaches to assessment with an ecological model focusing on good instruction. Itemizes specific changes which could accompany movement into Phase Four by established assessment communities. (MM)

The purpose of this paper is to describe some of the current changes in test development that are taking place because of the availability and capabilities of computers, especially microcomputers. Item banking and test assembly are discussed, and a comprehensive testing system is described. (BW)

With an increasing number of cases currently coming to the courts' attention to examine the conditions under which educational and psychological testing practices violate one's constitutional rights, this article considers the responses from school systems, professional organizations, the Federal Government, school psychologists, and the testing…

The present study was conducted to determine (1) if the quantitative section of the Admission Test for Graduate Study in Business is more speeded for black examinees than for white, and (2) if reducing or increasing the degree of speededness has a differential effect on the scores of minority versus majority group members. (Author)

Reviews selected research studies on testing in science education to demonstrate that, although many tests do exist in science education, there are areas needing further development. (CS)

Reviews a study of the perceived importance of 47 measurement objectives by elementary and secondary education majors who had not taken a measurement course. Suggests origins of education majors' negative attitudes about testing and considers some remedies. (JD)

Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is described and compared with conventional tests, and its advantages summarized. Some item response theory concepts used in CAT are summarized and illustrated. The author describes the potential usefulness of CAT in counseling and education and reviews some current issues in the implementation of CAT.

The summary information in this report provides teachers, school administrators, students and the general public with an overview of results from the January 1997 administration of the Social Studies 30 Diploma Examination for the province of Alberta, Canada. The summary is divided into: (1) description of the examination; (2) achievement of…

Britain's Associated Examining Board for the General Certificate of Education believes that an examination taken by adults should provide room for the use of experience. The article provides two examples of the Board's courses illustrating that policy: "Living Decisions" (based on a BBC series) and "English Language for Mature…

There are four steps in obtaining test data, each requiring planning and decision-making: assembling students, administering tests, scoring, and recording scores. In assembling students, two cautions are in order. First, for norm referenced tests, students in the treatment group should take the test at the same time of the year as the students in…

Experience in evaluating responses to poetry in the Advanced Placement Examination can offer guidelines for the effective testing of students on poetry without reducing their interest in the art. For advanced secondary or first-year college students, teachers should avoid approaches and tests that are concerned with (1) extraneous biographical,…

Testing, assessment, and evaluation, all based on measurement, are assuming increasingly important roles in American society. They are becoming a more vital force in the world of work, in education, and in the processes of determining the effectiveness of social institutions. Educational Testing Service (ETS) convened a conference for education…

For instructional films to be effective teaching device, testing based on their subject material must be devised and used. Serial Multiple Discrimination Teaching Examinations (Teaching Tests or TT's) have been so used in an introductory psychology course attended by 5,000 students in the last five years. Since these tests have a low chance factor…