Race and socioeconomic status predicted achievement of disadvantaged first graders on the Stanford Early School Achievement Test; equating these factors did not establish equality of achievement. Students with kindergarten experience performed similar to norms on the letters and sounds subtests, but lower on mathematics, aural comprehension, and…

This investigation sought to establish how documentation of relevant unpaid work experience can be reliably rated by administrators, and how well these ratings correlate with other assessments of administrative skills. A portfolio technique was developed and validated as a documentation device. (SK)

To validate the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute examinations to be used to select vocational instructors in Georgia, a random sample of teachers by occupation and race was tested. Test results were compared to national norms; local norms and a method for determining cut-off scores were developed. (SK)

Results indicate student involvement scales manifest levels of reliability which are adequate for studying group differences, such as dropouts and persistors. Scales tend to be positively related to student satisfaction in conceptually similar areas. (Author)

Learning disabled children performed lower than general education children on all five major scale indexes. A similar amount of scatter was present in the profiles of learning disabled and general education children. No specific pattern of scale indexes could be determined as typical for learning disabled children. (Author)

Light's retention scale does not meet standards for a psychometric device for schools. Possibly because of low reliability, the total score was not found to have concurrent validity. The scale needs revision in item content to be accepted by teachers. (Author)

Play was a significant predictor of success on all three measures of achievement. Socioeconomic status and sex appeared to have little influence on the prediction of achievement. Dramatic play had the most significant impact. (Author)

Data on 21 performance tests, entry level and promotional, motor and verbal, were evaluated for 263 applicants for city government jobs over a 17-month period. In comparison to paper and pencil tests, performance tests were more cost-effective, more face valid, and more acceptable to applicants in this situation. (Author/KC)

Levitan (Chairman of the National Commission on Employment and Unemployment Statistics) and Belous question the usefulness and accuracy of current methods of compiling unemployment statistics. Better measurements of labor market performance are crucial because of the ways such data are used to allocate funds and to form policies for combatting…

Results for employment tests indicated that differential validity occurs no more frequently than would be expected on the basis of chance plus the operation of various statistical artifacts. Similar results were obtained on educational tests. Tests are neither differentially valid for, nor unfair to, Hispanics. (Author)

Compares and factor analyzes the Career Decision Scale and Vocational Decision-Making Difficulty Scale. Subjects included undergraduates who were satisfied with their career choices and those who were unsure, dissatisfied, or undecided about theirs. Both scales seem promising. (CKJ)

Evaluates the degree to which the Counselor Rating Form (CRF) can distinguish students at the beginning and the end of a prepracticum experience. Although the social influence constructs of Attractiveness, Trustworthiness and Expertness were not specifically taught, there were significant increases in the level of these constructs. (Author)

The inclusion of a position on standardized testing in the 1980 Democratic Party platform established testing as a political and legislative issue. Testing regulations have been introduced in 20 states and in Congess, involving critics and supporters such as: the National Education Association, Nader's Public Interest Research Groups, and the…

Outlines a six-step process which can be used by faculty teams to assess the validity of criterion-referenced tests. Steps include: comparing test items with course objectives, assessing the test in terms of the domains and levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, and examining the appropriateness of various types of test questions. (JP)

Factors involved in pre-planned and post-planned evaluation of program effectiveness are compared: (1) reliability and cost of data; (2) internal and external validity; (3) obtrusiveness and threat; (4) goal displacement and program direction. A model to help program administrators decide which approach is more appropriate is presented. (Author/MH)