Examines the factor structure of the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale (M-GUDS) and presents a short form of the scale (M-GUDS-S). Findings suggest that the M-GUDS-S measures Universal-Diverse Orientation as a multidimensional construct with three distinct domains: behavioral, emotional, and cognitive. (Contains 21 references and 3…

Provides an overview of the concept of alignment and the role it plays in assessment and accountability systems. Discusses some methodological issues affecting the study of alignment and explores the relationship between alignment and test score interpretation. Alignment is not only a methodological requirement but also an ethical requirement.…

Studied the interpretation of scores on the Kaufman Ability Battery for Children(K-ABC) (Kaufman and Kaufman, 1983) as a measure of "Pure" intelligence in the Israeli standardization sample of 1,600 students in kindergarten through grade 8. Schooling was found to affect raw scores on all K-ABC mental processing scores, and the effects of…

The importance of educational accountability and assessment literacy is recognized as a long-term challenge to the educational system. The complexities in becoming an assessment literate and provide an opportunity to the educators to display their effective learning is discussed.

In keeping with the theme of the International Language Testing Association/Language Testing Research Colloquium Conference in 2008, "Focusing on the Core: Justifying the Use of Language Assessments to Stakeholders," I define "stakeholder-friendly tests," "defensible testing," and "testing-context analysis."…

The purpose of this document is to provide background information that will be useful in interpreting the 2007 results from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) by comparing its design, features, framework, and items with those of the U.S. National Assessment of Educational Progress and another international assessment…

Within the field of psychological assessment, the Wechsler scales continue to be the most widely used intelligence batteries. The concepts, methods, and procedures inherent in the design of the Wechsler scales have been so influential that they have guided most of the test development and research in the field for more than a half century. This…

H. Bosch, F. Steinkamp, and E. Boller's (see record 2006-08436-001) meta-analysis, which demonstrated (a) a small but highly significant overall effect, (b) a small-study effect, and (c) extreme heterogeneity, has provoked widely differing responses. After considering D. B. Wilson and W. R. Shadish's (see record 2006-08436-002) and D. Radin, R.…

Clinicians use a common practice of reporting age or grade equivalent derived scores, but problems of interpretation exist for such scores. This article examines derived comparison score issues and recommends use of scores of relative standing such as percentile ranks or standard scores in contrast to use of developmental scores like age and grade…

The extent to which standardized regression coefficients (beta values) can be used to determine the importance of a variable in an equation was explored. The beta value and the part correlation coefficient--also called the semi-partial correlation coefficient and reported in squared form as the incremental "r squared"--were compared for…

This survey examined the test use practices of counselors who belong to either or both of two divisions of the American Association for Counseling and Development: the American School Counselors Association, and the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. A questionnaire covering test use patterns, test…

The original nine programs for semantic differential analysis have been condensed into three programs which have been further refined and augmented. They yield: (1) means, standard deviations, and standard errors for each subscale on each concept; (2) Evaluation, Potency, and Activity (EPA) means, standard deviations, and standard errors; (3)…

Focuses on a unique measurement procedure which allows students to indicate when and the extent to which they guess on an examination. Suggests that such a procedure increases the accuracy of information derived from objective tests. (MH)

One hundred and one children (ages from 3 to 6 years) in a Head Start program were subjects in a procedure using the average deviation from the child's mean scaled score on the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities to determine significant developmental discrepancies. (DB)

Concludes that teachers need to be aware of the side effects before administering cloze test procedures to college students. (RB)