Discusses issues which "pertain to the success of children in school in answering test questions, the success of linguistic students in analyzing their answers, and generally the educational institution as a whole." Concludes that, "the main reason for reading failure in the inner cities is the cultural conflict between the educational system and…

Suggests that GCE and CSE boards need to bury their differences if progress is to be made on the 16-plus proposals. (Editor)

The gap between professionally and legally acceptable practice in professional licensure tests is addressed. Pertinent activities of the American Psychological Association, American Educational Research Association, and the National Council for Measurement in Education are discussed. (TJH)

Educational reform typically includes modifications in testing. The article discusses misconceptions about testing and reform, noting reform involves changing test structure or increasing amounts of testing. To provide accountability within educational reform, curriculum must be unified nationally, statewide, or locally because students cannot be…

Reports on the data gleaned from the survey on dance education administered simultaneously with the 1997 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) arts assessments. Presents the process and problems of developing and implementing assessments in dance. Considers the value of the assessments to dance and offers recommendations for the…

Several issues are related to the use of educational tests. First, test users must be able to choose appropriate tests, interpret scores, and make decisions based on scores. In the field of educational testing, few test users have adequate training in these areas. Second, test makers must clearly specify directions for administration, allowable…

In February, 1976, the Education Policy Research Institute sponsored this conference on the use of tests in educational policy formation; these six papers were presented at that conference. In the first paper, Jenne K. Britell discusses four points that have historically characterized debates about testing; psychometric and technical issues;…

THE PURPOSE OF TESTING IN SEASONAL AND MIGRANT FARMERS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS NOT FOR MEASUREMENT BUT FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE DEGREE AND INTENSITY OF HELP NEEDED. TESTS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TEACHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER CLASS BEGINS WHEN POSSIBLE. THEY SHOULD BE SCORED CAREFULLY, AND THE RESULTS ANALYZED AND INTERPRETED. THE AUTHOR…

Members (elementary and secondary teachers) of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) were surveyed in preparation for a series of workshops to improve teachers' use and understanding of tests. Results showed generally positive attitudes towards tests, and a specific interest in using tests for diagnostic and prescriptive planning purposes.…

Test anxiety is a common problem manifested by many college students. The Testing and Psychological Services Center at Northern Kentucky University sees a number of such students each semester. The possible causes of test anxiety are frequently the illogical or unrealistic demands that some students place on themselves. The methods of treatment…

Twenty-six papers concerning Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I program evaluation--presented at the 1978 American Educational Research Association/National Council on Measurement in Education meeting--are summarized. Speakers from the federal government are: C.T. Cross (see ED 156 695); R.L. Fishbein; and D. Ozenne. State department…

This research review discusses the use of traditional psychometric devices to predict an individual's academic performance, and to determine his admittance into a particular curriculum, particularly in today's open-door, comprehensive, community-junior college. To begin with, most reported uses of the typical achievement or aptitude test appear to…

This bulletin deals with the assessment of religious knowledge in the context of the examinaton for the Certificate of Secondary Education in England. In particular, the examination was devised in the hope of trying to determine whether or not it would be possible to assess the total impact on pupils of a four-year course in religious education…

This paper reports two experiments whose purpose was to relate two bodies of research on anxiety: test and trait-state anxiety. It was reasoned that state anxiety measures obtained in an evaluation testing condition should be more similar to test anxiety than state anxiety measures obtained in non-evaluative situations, such as a game in Study I…

Presents some of the issues examined by the Commission on Standardized Testing and the Evaluation of Potential Among Minority Group Members. Focuses on issues surrounding the testing of minority group members, i.e., the dangers of misclassification, test fairness and accountability. (DOW)