A tailored testing model employing the beta distribution, whose mean equals the difficulty of an item and whose variance is approximately equal to the sampling variance of the item difficulty, and employing conditional item difficulties, is proposed. (Author)

The goal of this investigation was to derive a common battery of tests for both whites and negroes, and utilizing, if possible, uniform selection standards. (Author)

Researchers often claim validity for student ratings after finding a positive ratings/achievement correlation. This allegedly shows that ratings identify teachers who promote learning. But if students are not randomly assigned to classes, or if the correlation is not computed across classmeans, the correlation may result instead from a student…

The Group Embedded Figures Test and the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were administered to 222 sixth grade students to explore the relationship between field-dependent/field-independent cognitive styles and reading achievement; scores from the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Tests were used to control IQ. The 60 students with the highest scores and the…

This paper begins by reviewing previous research concerning the external validity of mixed-motive games as models of international conflict, interpersonal behavior, and behavior in large-scale social dilemmas. Two further experiments are then described, both of which cast further doubt upon the usefulness of such games as models of any real-world…

Both criterion-referenced testing and behavioral assessment share the basic assumption that test behavior is a sample rather than a sign. In addition, both types of assessment focus on response capabilities and performance in specified content domains. Although content validity has been traditionally recognized as essential to criterion-referenced…

This paper attends to the critical, problematic and massively pervasive question of moving from precise and defensible statements of theoretical validity to equally precise and defensible statements of practical viability. Specifically, the paper presents certain experiences of sociologists engaged in bringing to bear tested propositions of youth…

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a rationale for the design and use of a nonverbal coder-training system, and second, to present comprehensive coder-training packages theoretically based in the areas of (1) learning theory, (2) nonverbal research, and (3) instructional technology. Specifically, this training program is…

The purpose of this paper is to give an account of the history of the Canadian Service for Admission to College and University (SACU) and to discuss its services, its present crisis, and its possible reorientation, bearing in mind the fact that West Germany is about to establish a similar admissions service. (Author/RK)

Describes the research approach used to develop the MAT-SEA-CAL Oral Proficiency tests designed by the authors. Language test performance depends on both language proficiency and knowledge of the culture. (TL)

Reports research evaluating validity of the so-called class-size effect on student ratings of college courses and instructors. The data from 981 volunteered undergraduate courses includes mean scores on five dimensions of teaching performance and one overall rating of student learning. (JT)

A set of criteria was developed to assist users and developers of observation systems. Thirty-three criteria which observation systems should meet were identified and classified into three main types: identifying, validity, and practicality. (Author/DEP)

Demonstrates that variables that are the basis for admitting students to graduate school must have low correlations with future measures of the success of these students. The question of interest in the admissions procedure is how well the variables evaluate the applicant population rather than the selected students. (GS)