Examines the students' understanding of mathematical structure and the relationship between problem solving and the identification of the structure in 13 word problems. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to assess how subjects organized word problems in their minds. (YP)

Provides guidelines for developing and implementing lessons using selections from children's literature as meaningful and appropriate contexts for solving word problems. Selection procedures, materials for constructing the characters, and two sample problems are provided. Lists 15 references. (YP)

The relationship between characteristics of test takers and characteristics of test items was examined in a quasiexperimental study involving 301 high school juniors and sophomores taking a mathematics examination that was consequential to sophomores but not juniors. Results are interpreted in relation to the expectancy value model of motivation.…

Suggested are ways to improve the SAT and its face validity. Suggestions include greater emphasis on more-realistic problems, inclusion of realistic percent problems, modification of the multiple-choice format, and the use of the National Council of Mathematics "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" as a guide to construct the test. (MDH)

This study, with 66 regular classroom children and 52 children with learning disabilities, found high correlations among the Cognitive Levels Test, the KeyMath-Revised measure, and the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Revised. Overall, 81 percent of subjects were correctly classified using the three-instrument battery. (Author/DB)

Discusses a new placement program that allows incoming university students to select courses on the basis of prior mathematics coursework and tests students after the first few days of review. Compares and contrasts this method with the previous program that tested students prior to placement. (MDH)

Design details, operation, and initial field test results are reported for DynaMath, a computer-based dynamic assessment system that provides individually tailored, instructionally useful assessment of students with disabilities. DynaMath organizes and outputs student performance data, graphically shows the "zone of proximal…

Discusses cognitive processes associated with mental rotation and procedures for presenting and learning orthographic projection. Descriptions include a series of three experiments generated by cognitive load theory that investigated the effects of worked example formats on high school students using two- and three-dimensional representations. (19…

Evaluated the effectiveness in a community college of the Professional Development Program, in which (n=80) mostly minority precalculus students attend workshops utilizing small study groups, faculty leadership, challenging mathematical materials, and peer support networks. No overall effect on student performance was found. Includes postinterview…

KeyMath Revised was devised as a power test for use with students from kindergarten through grade 9. The test is divided into three dimensions: basic concepts, operations, and applications. This paper describes the test's administration, summation of data, standardization, reliability, and validity. (JDD)

Discusses and demonstrates combining scores from multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items to create a common scale using Item Response Theory methodology. Provides empirical results using a set of tests in reading, language, mathematics, and science in three grades. (SLD)

Examined whether changes in format of mathematics items in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) had any effect on gender differences in performance using a Swedish sample of 8,851 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Results show no significant changes in gender differences when item format is altered. (SLD)

Studied the solution strategies of 55 high school students who solved parallel constructed response and multiple-choice items that differed only in the presence of response options. Differences in difficulty between response formats did not correspond to differences in strategy choice. Interprets results in light of the relative comprehension…

Three analytic approaches were used in a framework of classical test theory to examine the construct validity of a mathematics assessment of 16 constructed response items. Results from 280 elementary school students across four age groups suggest a developmental structure of tasks and subdomains that was generally consistent with the test's…

Examines value-added student achievement levels of 74 school districts named as litigants in "Tennessee v. Small School Systems v. McWherter" and compares them with those of 64 nonlitigating districts. Although litigant districts have achieved greater fiscal equity, student achievement has not significantly improved. (Contains 11…