The construct validity of the Sequential Processing, Simultaneous Processing and Achievement scales of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children was supported by factor-analytic investigations of a representative national stratified sample of 2,000 children. Correlations provided insight into the relationship of sequential/simultaneous…

Reviews the Test of Practical Knowledge, a multiple choice test of "functional competency," noting that the test's task requirements are confounded by such factors as intelligence, achievement, social knowledge, and reading ability. (HOD)

Considers the extent to which a testing task can be made authentic so that it constitutes an example of normal and natural language behavior on the part of both examiner and candidate. Also considers the effects on test validity and the correct interpretation of test results if a test cannot be made authentic. (SED)

Receptive and expressive vocabulary tests were administered to 100 Indian and 106 non-Indian students in grades 1-3. Mean scores for Indian students were significantly lower on both tests. For Indian students only, the difference between the mean scores of the two tests was significant, with expressive scores lower than receptive. (JHZ)

Discusses a test given to a group of elementary school students of English as a second language. The purpose of the test was to measure developmental errors, that is, errors which reflect a learner's competence at a given stage, and to illustrate some of the general characteristics of language acquisition. (SED)

Students were found to resist persuasive pressure towards alcohol after completing a course utilizing McGuire's Inoculation Theory. The Inoculation Theory familiarizes students with possible arguments pressuring them to drink and suggests refutations to be used. Details of this theory and techniques of the testing procedure are given. (DF)

An orientation and procedural framework designed to assist school psychologists considering projective assessment and subsequent consultation with parents and school staff are presented. This approach may be useful in facilitating effective consultations and interventions. The psychologist's presentation and suggestions are most important to the…

The concept of students' cognitive preferences was analyzed considering empirical findings with cognitive preference tests. Cognitive preferences were identified as the modes of attending to the course subject matter: memory of specific facts, practical application, critical questioning of information, and identification of a fundamental…

Specific aptitude clusters from the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery (WJPEB) are examined to determine their effectiveness in evaluating aptitude-achievement discrepancies. Advantages of the Scholastic Aptitude clusters over the Broad Cognitive Ability clusters are outlined. Major types of discrepancies, rationale, and research on the…

Four methods are outlined for estimating or approximating from a single test administration the standard error of measurement of number-right test score at specified ability levels or cutting scores. The methods are illustrated and compared on one set of real test data. (Author)

In a confidence weighting situation, the examinee is asked to indicate the correct answer, and how certain he or she is of the correctness of that answer. This paper reviews the bases for confidence marking, its validity and accuracy in evaluating students, and it's use in research. (BW)

As a preliminary step in customizing the Stanford Achievement Test, a study was made to compare the test items at each level with the curriculum objectives of a Florida school district, classifying them as either matching, above or below grade level, or unmatching. Results are shown in table form. (TE)

This article lists psychometric problems encountered when measuring change in achievement by improved test scores as is done in performance contracting. Examined are: regression toward the mean, reliability of gain scores, the nature of grade norms, and test content as representation of educational objectives. (SB)

Subjects (N=22) completing a master's degree in counseling with prior counseling experience served as client and counselor under two different conditions. Of six hypotheses, the one confirmed held that when more prepared, the counselor would communicate in "expert" fashion; when less prepared, in equalitarian fashion. (Author)

Where estimation of abilities in the lower half of the ability distribution for the Raven Progressive Matrices is important, or an increase in accuracy of ability estimation is needed, the multiple category latent trait estimation provides a rational procedure for realizing gains in accuracy from the use of information in wrong responses.…