Research supported in part by Public Health Research Grant MH-1733-09 from the National Institute of Mental Health and by the National Science Foundation through an undergraduate fellowship.

An approach to partitioning the variance in student ratings not previously reported in the literature is described. The new approach provides an alternative basis for interpreting faculty evaluations that overcome objections to current practices. Student responses on evaluation forms were cluster-analyzed to establish homogeneous subgroups of…

The use of Stanford Achievement Tests (SATs) with hearing impaired students is considered. Background of the test is given, and the SAT-HI (SAT for the Hearing Impaired) is discussed in terms of its content, item wording, and norms. Among six specific recommendations made are to use the SAT-HI because it minimizes floor and ceiling effects,…

Adult norms are shown as cutting scores for each of the aptitudes judged significant for a given occupation. Tables for converting adult scores to their ninth and tenth grade equivalents are included. The standard error of measurement is reported for each of the nine aptitudes of the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB): intelligence, verbal…

This monograph focuses on rating scales and other similar instruments being used in applied rehabilitation settings. The first of two major sections presents a general discussion of rating scales and their use. Specifically, this section includes subparts dealing with (1) reasons for using rating instruments, (2) the types of rating scales, (3)…

Guidelines are proposed for reviewing career interest tests, aptitude tests, and achievement tests for sex bias in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments 1972. To review the tests, several recommendations are made: analyze the test; review the technical manuals and interpretive information; examine and classify test items, reading…

A DISCUSSION OF TEST VARIABLES AND THE TESTING PROGRAM OF THE PROJECT WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED IN THIS DOCUMENT. CAUTION WAS PARTICULARLY EMPHASIZED IN THE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS USING STANDARD ACHIEVEMENT TESTS WITH SUBJECTS FROM THE MODESTO MULTI OCCUPATIONAL PROJECT. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVED PROGRAM EVALUATION INCLUDED ADDITIONAL…

This self study guide attempts through a series of questions to call the reader's attention to possible sources of bias in the comprehensive assessment procedure. Beginning when someone considers the possibility that a child has an educational handicap, the questions move through preparation and assessment, scoring, interpretation, report writing…

The paper briefly describes assessment practices in terms of their theoretical principles. The practices include: (a) the client is an informed participant even during the assessment process; (b) the referral is situated in terms of actual events; (c) life events are primary data, and test scores are secondary or derived data; (d) interpretation…

There are two major aspects to the cutoff score issue in criterion-referenced (CR) measurement: whether a cutoff score is actually needed for a CR test, and the method for setting the cutoff score if one is used. There are many factors to be considered in determining a cutoff score. While cutoff scores are very often set arbitrarily (e.g., 80%),…

Guidelines are presented for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City-Wide Testing Program. They involve the preparation of pupils for the Administration of the tests, preparation of teachers for administering the tests, some acceptable and unacceptable practices, use and dissemination of test results, and security concerns related to the testing…

The procedure of estimating true scores by means of a transformation of the obtained score based on the reliability coefficient is compared with the use of the obtained score without transformation. Using the mean squared error as a criterion, the transformed score is a better estimate for most examinees but poorer for those whose true scores lie…