Examines the purposes of large-scale assessment programs, outlines the dangers and benefits of these assessments, considers the research evidence about the consequences of assessment, discusses how to evaluate assessment quality, and presents some ideas about the variables that influence the probabilities for good and bad assessment. (SLD)

Describes seven topics that should be included in a course for teachers on performance assessment and provides some ideas for teaching them. The topics range from assessment selection to recognizing inappropriate, unethical, or illegal assessment methods and uses. (SLD)

Addresses educational and policy issues related to use and interpretation of intelligence (IQ) tests in schools. Summarizes research on cognitive abilities and origins of individual differences in IQ. Considers implications of findings for educational and social policy. Discusses important issues related to practical application of IQ tests in…

Examined the factor structure of the responses of 487 Chinese high school students to the Verbal, Math, Academic, and General self-concept scales of the Self-Description Questionnaire-II administered in China at two time points. Results support the multidimensionality and domain specificity of academic self-concepts found in Western countries for…

The articles in this section discuss aspects of assessment: (1) "Assessment: What Is It? Why Do We Need It? How Do We Use It?" (Roy Berko and Linda Webster); (2) "Public Speaking Assessment for College Students" (William W. Neher and Deborah Grew); and (3) "Student Progress? Prove It!" (Donna Surges Tatum). (SLD)

Surveyed 31 teachers regarding types of moral situations they encounter and how preparation programs should enlighten new teachers. Teachers feel uneasy about resolving problems involving student cheating, colleagues' unprofessional behavior, and inappropriate parental demands. Elementary teachers are concerned about misuse of standardized tests;…

A study was conducted of the public's interest in standardized student testing by reviewing the test-related sections of about 70 polls and surveys of public opinion. In general, the public favors more testing with higher stakes, perhaps because they consider testing in the context of real alternatives and find it best. (SLD)

An issue in the lower teacher certification rates of African-American teacher candidates has been the disparate impact of assessments. Five broad categories of the sources of disparate impact are discussed, and evidence collected by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is discussed. (SLD)

The Cognitive Holding Power Questionnaire (J. Stevenson, 1990) measures the press for higher and lower order thinking in classroom environments. Results from 1203 Australian high school students show that it is the teacher, rather than other environmental aspects, who is central to the press for different kinds of thinking in the classroom. (SLD)

Evaluates the Dutch Text Comprehension Test, developed to help improve the education of secondary school minority students in the Netherlands. Finds the test proved reliable for both L1 students and L2 students. Suggests, although classification results were not optimal, the test can be used for diagnostic purposes provided a relatively large…

The scale invariance of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory was examined when 412 children were rated by parents on functioning at home and the same children were rated by rehabilitation personnel in an educational setting. Results indicated that parents and personnel can be trained to make similar judgments. (SLD)

Whether performance patterns on four variables from the California Verbal Learning Test could differentiate patients with moderate or severe brain injuries from those with mild injuries giving incomplete effort was studied with 46 patients, half of whom were in litigation. The test appeared to be useful as part of an evaluation of brain injury.…

As a response to recent public debate about the nature of intelligence, this article reviews the "state of the art" in the study of intelligence, exploring significant conceptualizations of intelligence, the use and interpretation of intelligence tests, racial or ethnic differences in intelligence, and major issues yet to be resolved.…

Studied the use of adaptive testing when examinees are classified into three categories. Established testing algorithms with two different statistical computation procedures and evaluated them through simulation using an operative item bank from Dutch basic adult education. Results suggest a reduction of at least 22% in the mean number of items…

Providing an incentive to make procrastinators study by giving a test on each chapter was compared with providing a learning strategy by requiring students to outline each chapter, with 82 students classified by level of procrastination. There was an advantage of almost 12% for the test condition among high procrastinators. (SLD)