There is no one structural model that defines the construct functional literacy. However, acceptable construct definitions in the literature cumulatively form some beginnings for a nomological network that relates functional literacy to the level of skills deemed necessary for survival in society. In the study, two different validation…

Oral tests for speaking skills evaluate two major skills: linguistic competence, including accuracy of pronunciation, vocabulary, and structure, and communication ease. Four factors affect students' oral performance: verbal intelligence, short-term auditory and visual memory, sound-symbol association skill, and grammatical analysis. Personality…

This review assesses the American College Test (ACT) Assessment and examines circumstances that can affect students' test outcomes. Understanding the ACT tests is important for using and interpreting test results appropriately. The ACT subtests incorporate both aptitude and achievement measures. The content scope and structure, and limitations of…

Investigated were self concept levels of 109 deaf college students, and examined were social interaction behaviors among a subset of 27 Ss from the study sample. Results of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale indicated a response pattern demonstrating psychological distress or maladjustment, but reliability and comprehension analysis suggested that a…

Not only must personnel tests be validated in compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's guidelines, but a correlation must exist between test usage and the decision process involved in personnel selection, placement, and transfer. Journal available from: School of Business Administration, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta, Georgia…

Compared were subtest scores and full scale results on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children of 197 retarded (IQ 30-69) 7-to 15-year-old children. (CL)

Over the years many criticisms have been offered against the multiple choice test format. Ambiguous, and emphasizing isolated information, they are also the most difficult objective tests to construct. Over-interpretation is a danger of multiple choice examinations with students picking subtle answers the test makers consider incorrect. Yet, the…

This paper discusses certain problems that can arise with respect to the selection of content in the preparation of a test to measure language proficiency for some specific purpose. Forty employees in a defense plant in Montreal, Canada were interviewed in order to specify language needs, to arrive at a precise interpretation of the required…

Most attempts to correct for the presence of biased test items in a measurement instrument have been either to remove the items or to adjust the scores to correct for the bias. Using the Rasch Dichotomous Response Model and the independent ability estimates derived from three sets of items, those which favor females, those which favor males, and…

The author discusses his observations from administering such tests as the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) to young disabled children in Costa Rica. Cultural influences and nuances of translations are seen to affect performance. Factors involved in remediation programing are also noted. A final consideration is the "barrio…

The development of some psychometric indices of performance rating quality based in judgement is traced. The conceptual and analytical confusion that characterizes contemporary research in this area is described. The operational definitions of several criteria of rating quality, including leniency and severity of the rating effect, halo effect,…

A major objective of the measurement profession continues to be the assurance of high quality tests and proper test use. The National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) constitutes a group of testing practitioners, scholars, and specialists with well-informed opinions on matters of educational measurement and testing. NCME regards it as…