Three separate papers are included in this report. The first describes a two-stage procedure for choosing from among several instructional programs the one which maximizes the probability of passing the test. The second gives the exact sample sizes required to determine whether a squared multiple correlation coefficient is above or below a known…

The author reviews the key problems associated with generally accepted practices for identifying the gifted from the perspective of minority gifted students, particularly the gifted bilingual child; and presents some alternative approaches for testing. Noted among the shortcomings of testing minority students are that standardized tests are not…

A faculty member in a predominately black institution in the University System of Georgia critiqued the basic skills examination used as a placement and exit examination for the remedial program. He found that the local committee that developed the test had not defined what "basic skills" are, set priorities, nor specified degrees of…

Five elementary school groups, or cohorts, were given the Test Anxiety Scale for Children and the Lie Scale for Children on three occasions over a year's time. This paper examines the results cross-sectionally and reveals between-group, or cohort effects. The youngest and oldest cohorts displayed low anxiety. Within-group longitudinal changes did…

To assess the effect of contextual stimuli on learning, a study was conducted to see if providing instruction to students in one setting and testing them in yet another setting had an effect on their recall. Twenty-eight college students were randomly divided into two groups, and both were exposed to a multimedia instructional presentation. Then,…

This paper discusses some of the problems posed by external testing, including the social and racial complexities and the serious intellectual issues raised by the nature of a "standardized" examination. It is argued that these and other problems are likely to intensify to an unprecedented degree during the next several years as a result of…

Many problems in the areas of test interpretation and educational assessment are causing difficulties for educators. On one hand the public and legislators are requesting more state testing programs and assessment programs, while on the other, educators realize the problems concerning testing and test interpretation. Difficulties arise when tests…

In the 1971-72 IMS tryout, the first step in processing data after a teacher tests her pupils was mailing of criterion exercises to the Forms Control Center. This simple step often added significant amounts to total processing turnaround time. Comparison of delays between testing and mailing are presented for districts, schools and teachers and…

Contained in this packet on standardized tests and testing in English is a miscellany of materials written by students, teachers, researchers, test makers, and others about the uses, abuses, and misuses of standardized tests. The materials are not intended to be a definitive study of the standardized test in English but rather to provoke…

The 13th Western Regional Conference on Testing Problems dealt with testing in relation to teaching and teachers. The following speeches were presented: (1) "Testing and the Teaching Act" by Arthur P. Coladarci; (2) "Examinations and the Advancement of Teaching" by Arthur Benson; (3) "An Exploration of Different Teacher Role Expectations" by A.…

Test anxiety is of particular significance in education in light of its debilitative effect on test scores and the implications and longranged effects of test results on the individual lives of the school children. This research is concerned with test anxiety of children under different test conditions. Subjects were 4th and 6th grade students who…

Texts often suggest running preliminary tests for homogeneity of variance prior to running an ANOVA. While it has been known for some time that most of the suggested tests are probably not appropriate, they are still being used. This paper is a review of the literature in terms of the implications involved in running preliminary tests in general…

In April 1974, allegations were made that students, teachers, and the general public had access to the New York Citywide Reading Test prior to its administration, and the results, therefore, were invalid. In the face of these allegations, New York City developed a strategy for the administration of a secure test: a test never before available in…

The authors argue that the usefulness and legitimacy of measuring student growth depend upon the purpose for which the scores will be used. They conclude there are many situations in education in which measurement of student growth is possible, justifiable, and informative. (Author)

The popular educational reform trend toward competency testing is appropriate to measure achievement in the basic skills areas, but competency testing in core curriculum areas may cause teachers to teach for the test, lead to minimal standards at the expense of excellence, and stifle the transfer of learning and creativity. (CB)