In order to use Norm referenced tests (NRT) in a meaningful way, test users have to understand the limitations of NRT to fully or accurately assess the test taker. NRT needs to be put into perspective with other information and integrated with an individual's experiences, needs, values, goals and objectives. (Author)

Describes the home-grown system of external educational standards and incentives that were created in the early 20th century by college prep schools and the impact this system had on how teachers taught and students learned. Discussions include how standards were used as curricular frameworks and the creation and influence of the College Board…

Differences in attitude toward classroom testing were studied with 219 college faculty members and 108 students. Although both groups acknowledged the importance of tests, more positive attitudes were found for faulty members rather than students, and the greatest discrepancy in attitude scores was for items regarding the fairness of tests. (SLD)

This article discusses the structure of a committee that evaluates assessments for students with visual impairments and the process by which the committee arrives at its recommendations to test developers and administrators. Concerns and preferred practices that have been revealed by the committee's two years of experience are discussed. (CR)

Describes how the North Central Association (NCA) school improvement process helped Auburn Elementary School (Kansas) achieve improved student performance. Asserts that critical elements for a successful school improvement process include: trust, organization, and strong steering committee and peer review chairs. (KP)

The implications for educational and employment testing of recent measurement, social, and policy issues are compared and contrasted. Changes are proposed relative to technical conceptualization of assessment, an increased focus on performance-based evaluation, and expanded expectations and uses of assessment. (SLD)

Discusses the educational philosophies of the two camps of the Progressive Education Movement: the child-centered education camp, exemplified by the work of John Dewey, and mass education camp exemplified by the rising "science" of educational testing (led by Edward L. Thorndike) and the growth and centralized authority of large…

Summarizes research supporting current beliefs in testing, identifies good assessment qualities, and reviews the current knowledge of test design. Standardized tests negatively affect academic program quality. Alternative assessments must be judged by their validity, reliability, consequences, fairness, generalizability, cognitive complexity,…

Presents a conceptual framework of educational diagnosis based on formative evaluation. Describes a computer-based diagnostic system that maximizes the coherence and effectiveness of obtained information by generating a structural diagnosis of the nature of student errors and a causal diagnosis related to teaching methods. Contains 64 references.…

Considers the need for and status of assessment literacy for teachers. The article examines whether teachers need to assess, whether there are preservice assessment courses, what assessment courses should teach, what topics are covered in other courses, what is happening with assessment in the schools, and what is needed. (SM)

This meta-analysis reviewed 58 effect sizes from 40 reports on the instructional effects of feedback in tests or similar situations. Mediated instructional feedback for retrieval and application of specific knowledge appeared to stimulate correction of erroneous responses when its reception was encouraged. (SLD)

This review employs a conceptual framework that distinguishes methods of detecting measurement bias based on either observed or unobserved conditional invariance models. The primary interest is in group-level measurement bias. Methods for bias detection in both continuous and ordered-categorical measures are reviewed, as are methods for testlets…

Whether gender and administration mode (computer versus pencil and paper) influenced mean scores on four noncognitive psychological instruments was studied with 874 undergraduates. Results show no statistically significant interaction between gender and administration mode, although statistically significant main effects were found for both gender…

Indicates the responsibilities of teachers in understanding the student learning process and focuses on some tools that identify student learning styles such as quizzes, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, and Multiple Intelligences. (YDS)

Articles in this special section consider (1) flow in test taking (Craig Deville); (2) testwiseness (Thomas O'Neill); (3) test length (Benjamin Wright); (4) cross-language test equating (Richard W. Woodcock and Ana Munoz-Sandoval); (5) computer-assisted testing and testwiseness (Richard Gershon and Betty Bergstrom); and (6) Web-enhanced testing…