A number of methods exist for detection of differential item functioning (DIF), but these methods tell us little about the causes of DIF. DIF is typically defined based on a relationship with some manifest group characteristic, such as gender or ethnicity, which is only weakly associated with DIF. What is lacking is a method that will lead to…

A client of American College Testing, Inc. (ACT) decided to implement a computer-based testing program to replace their paper-pencil format for professional certification. This paper reports on the results of the developed test after 1 year's use, especially as the results relate to test security issues. ACT research shows that a variable length…

New items are being calibrated for the next generation of the computerized adaptive (CAT) version of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) (Forms 5 and 6). The requirements that the items be "good" three-parameter logistic (3-PL) model items and typically "like" items in the previous CAT-ASVAB tests have…

This study examined the effectiveness of the Sympson and Hetter conditional procedure (SHC), a modification of the Sympson and Hetter (1985) algorithm, in controlling the exposure rates of items in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) environment. The properties of the procedure were compared with those of the Davey and Parshall (1995) and the…

Item selection methods in computerized adaptive testing (CAT) can yield extremely skewed item exposure distribution in which items with high "a" values may be over-exposed while those with low "a" values may never be selected. H. Chang and Z. Ying (1999) proposed the a-stratified design (ASTR) that attempts to equalize item…

An item response theory (IRT) model is used as a measurement error model for the dependent variable of a multilevel model where tests or questionnaires consisting of separate items are used to perform a measurement error analysis. The advantage of using latent scores as dependent variables of a multilevel model is that it offers the possibility of…

What are the purposes of exams? Would teachers give exams if they were not grading students? Exams provide information that should inform the instructional program, let the students know their strengths as well as areas for growth, and tell teachers what information their students know and what they still need to know. When determining how…

Argues that multiple choice tests can be effective only if the items are written in a format suitable for testing the mastery of specific instructional objectives. Proposes the use of nonrestrictive test items and cites examples of such items. (FL)

The article presents translations of Chinese college entrance examinations in the fields of politics, Chinese language and literature, mathematics, humanities, physics, chemistry, history, geography, and English. Translations are also presented of the 1979 review syllabus for 1979 for the same subject areas. (DB)

Most psychological tests and inventories, particularly in personality and attitude measurement, contain common items. The present report specifically considered common-item contributions to test internal consistency reliability using extant data from the California Psychological Inventory. No negative contribution of item overlap was found.…

The development of four parallel multiple-choice tests using Guttman's facet design analysis is discussed. A mapping sentence was used to specify a test blueprint. The examinations were found to be parallel when actually used. (Author/GK)

Adequacy coefficients can be derived by calculating the cosines of the angles between factors' actual and theoretically expected locations within factor space. The use of adequacy coefficients during instrument development is discussed. The development of an instrument to measure thinking interests provides a heuristic framework for the…

This study sought to determine what types of history were emphasized by the Examination Boards and thus to throw light on the experience in history which was gained by candidates for these exams. A bias toward the political history of the imperial power was found. (Author/SJL)

Using Monte Carlo generated item response data, this research sought to determine the effectiveness, sufficiency and similarity of selected techniques for detecting item bias. The three-parameter latent-trait test model was used to generate the simulated data. (Author/JKS)