The effect of context on the scoring of essays was examined by arranging that the scoring of the criterion essay would be preceded either by five superior essays or by five inferior essays. The contrast in essay quality had the hypothesized effect. Other effects were not significant. (CTM)

The paper discusses some problems in using achievement tests with hearing impaired students and offers some general suggestions for school testing programs. (PHR)

Social and naturally occurring choice phenomena are often of the "pick any" type in which the number of choices made by a subject as well as the set of alternatives from which they are chosen is unconstrained. A model and scaling method for these data are introduced. (Author/JKS)

Questions are raised regarding the validity of norm-referenced tests and mass testing as accurate methods for evaluating student educational needs. (LH)

Martindale's assumption that Jews, Catholics, and Protestants are each homogeneous populations is criticized. His assumption that similar psychometric patterns found in brain-damaged and non-brain-damaged populations reflect similar brain organization is disputed. Martindale replies to this criticism. (Author/BEF)

Both the WISC and the WISC-R were administered to 54 children, with one half taking the WISC first and the other 27 taking the WISC-R first. Differences between mean subtest scaled scores and mean IQs were found to be influenced by the sequence of the tests. (Author)

In a study of the characteristics of persons who took the California licensing examination for clinical social workers, the only variable that correlated with passing the examination was the applicant's involvement in personal therapy. (Author)

This paper reviews research on symbolic play gaps between children with and without language impairment (LI), arguing that these gaps should not be interpreted as demonstrative of marked deficits in general representational or specific symbolic play competence of children with LI. Frequent encroachment of language into testing procedures is cited…

Describes study results that compared different ways of measuring frequency of alcohol use employed in previous research. Results of intake interviews with clients (N=832) indicate that frequency-of-alcohol-use reports can be affected by the type of response options used and by the location of items in a self-administered microcomputer interview.…

Translated five subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd ed.)--Picture Completion, Information, Similarities, Vocabulary, and Comprehension--into sign language and administered tests to 110 severely and profoundly deaf children. Results indicate that many of the subtest items differentially measured intelligence for deaf…

Summarizes a special journal issue that is intended to provide professionals and other members of the policy-shaping community with information concerning the appropriate role of IQ testing in school psychological services. Suggests that IQ testing is unfounded and has led the field of school psychology astray. (RJM)

Refutes Bonnie Cramond's claim that divergent-thinking tests surpass expert opinions in judging creativity. Baer's original article deplores using "creativity" tests to select students for gifted/talent programs. He recommends having experts evaluate the creativity of actual products (poems and artwork). All students should be taught…

Problems in using comparative data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study include the following: inadequate funding of the research; unique cultural factors; questionable sampling procedures; noncomparative curricula; irregularities in test administration; and student preparation for tests. Results do not identify the root…

Structured interviews with 154 adults with mental retardation showed two-thirds were either unable to respond or exhibited response bias. There was a significant difference in scores on the Adaptive Behavior Scale between those who exhibited response bias and those who did not. The substitution of a proxy respondent is discussed. (Contains…

The evaluation of gifted programs is examined in terms of setting group and individual goals, measurement problems (validity, reliability, precision, ceiling effect, and overtesting), comparison groups (national norms or pre- and posttesting), and implementing evaluation strategies. (DB)