By drawing analogies to the history of mental testing, the author concludes that the responsibility for critical evaluation and beneficial use of social indicators rests with social scientists. Future directions of critical inquiry are suggested. (Author/MH)

Undergraduates in study-skills course were classified by comparing actual with predicted grade point averages. Multivariate analyses of variance supported predicted precourse differences, but pattern of differences was not same for students of different personality types and academic achievement levels. Overall effectiveness of course was…

Discusses an instrument developed to assess the counseling needs of older persons. The Older Persons Counseling Needs Survey was administered to (N=107) older persons. Results of a statistical analysis indicated that older persons have a variety of counseling needs that are all approximately at the same need level. (RC)

Examines attempts to employ personality inventories in the identification of college students for leadership positions which have traditionally been unsuccessful. In this study, the Leadership Opinion Questionnaire was administered to college leaders and nonleaders. Results suggest its potential usefulness in the selection and training of students…

Describes types of tests, types of student responses required, ways to interpret tests, and the major test developers. (WD)

Reports a study conducted for litigation in a sex discrimination case dealing with misuse of an employment interview. Results show that dexterity could not be determined in an interview and a more appropriate selection technique such as a test was required. (Author/JAC)

Assesses the reliability and stability of television exposure, and the relationship of various demographic variables to this hypothetical construct, when measurement error is removed. Analyzes data collected from Black adults. Concludes that more attention should be given to theoretically defining media exposure and to taking into account…

A defense is presented against the criticism that school psychologists who critically evaluate the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) are biased (TM 504 174). (MH)

In this study with 240 introductory psychology students, ten interpretable independent dimensions of satisfaction with life were extracted with six factors that loaded on the PIL and four that loaded on the SONG, supporting Crumbaugh's assertion that the SONG is a complementary scale to the PIL. (Author/SJL)

Three case studies are presented that describe variations used to obtain student perceptions of examinations and examination questions. Student perceptions can provide feedback about the quality of the examination. Results are presented and discussed and some examples of test evaluation questions are given. (Author/MLW)

Researchers reanalyzed the original Adult Performance Level Test survey data for the test's validity and reliability, and they concluded that (1) the test is not content valid because it assumes that functional competence can be logically defined and adult success accurately measured; and (2) the test is a valid measure of verbal, writing, and…

After a brief historical (Orton) and theoretical (Gibson) look at the phenomenon of reversals, two groups of studies are reviewed and evaluated. The first group involves neurological and psychological factors associated with reversals such as age and training. The second relates reversals to reading disabilities and to future reading achievement.…

The purpose of this study was to develop and field test an instrument to measure the importance of interests, capacities, and values to a population of 1220 students, grades 5-12. Specifically, it sought to examine the middle (tentative) stage of Ginzberg's three-stage developmental theory of occupational decision-making. (Author/SJL)

Alienation is viewed as a relatively stable and enduring characteristic of individuals. Significant correlations were found between the alienation scale, administered before matriculation, and three indices of adjustment in the freshman year (i.e., the adjustment scale, an activities checklist, and attrition). (Author)

Tests for Everyday Living (TEL) is a series of tests which assess adolescents' knowledge and performance in daily living and prevocational skill areas. Tests include a practical reading scale. Content of TEL and psychometric characteristics determined during standardization provide evidence for utility and validity of the battery. (Author)