Examined the accuracy and validity of self-reports and their effect on tests of attitude-behavior relationships. Self-reports were reasonably accurate, but they produced results different from actual behavior in attitude-behavior tests. Concludes that self-reports and actual behavior should be measured, tested, and modeled separately. (Author/LS)

Draws from validity generalization research to summarize evidence disputing theories that objective employment tests are either biased against minorities or lack utility. Argues that group differences in test scores do not result from deficiencies in tests, but in skills they measure. Suggests that measurement-based research does not provide…

Explores the reliability and validity of an affective domain instrument, the "Survey on Economic Attitudes," by providing new norms and a discussion of the properties of the national sample of high school students used. Presents current information about the economic attitudes of U.S. high school students and raises some important…

Obtained peer and teacher ratings of social competence for 94 first and second graders. Also measured interpersonal problem-solving skills, intelligence, academic achievement, and socioeconomic status. Correlations between three problem-solving scores and social competence ratings ranged from .04 to .20. Intelligence, achievement and socioeconomic…

Outlines research necessary for determining the validity and reliability of Test of Written English, an essay test that directly measures writing ability and complements Test of English-as-a-Foreign-Language's (TOEFL) indirect assessment of writing skills. Research should cover such aspects as construct, criterion-related, concurrent, content, and…

Classical test theory and correlational techniques such as factor analysis have been unable to deal with many language tests' measurement problems. The Partial Credit Model, a latent trait model for the analysis of data scored in ordered categories, is used to construct and analyze an oral interview test of English as a Second Language. (28…

Examines ways in which intelligent tutoring systems can be used to develop models of a student's domain knowledge, problem solving abilities, and learning strategies. Cognitive skills assessment is discussed, and an example of a problem based tutoring system, Qualitative Understanding of Electrical System Troubleshooting (QUEST), is explained. (25…

The article describes the development of a Knowledge Battery to assess the competency level of secondary special education students receiving instruction in the Life-Centered Career Education Curriculum. The Battery consists of 89 subcompetency tests with items selected, validity, reliability, cutting scores determined, and standardization…

Analysis of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores for 32,467 graduate school applicants, all nonnative speakers of English, revealed that students in the two key major-field groups, humanities/social sciences and biological/physical sciences, performed better on reading passages related to their own groups than on other passages.…

Discussion of CD-ROM evaluation and selection processes focuses on a pairwise comparison method for knowledge acquisition with a consistency measure as a validation technique. Highlights include human experts' preferences and judgments; a CD-ROM selection model, including format, contents, usage, and technical considerations; and consistency…

Examined how young children participating in early childhood programs perceive the social support they receive. Results indicated that pre- and early elementary school-age children can respond to questions about their social support networks in reasonably reliable and valid ways. Significant correlations with indices of perceived competence and…

This paper responds to a 1992 study in which it was argued that the structure of intelligence in adults with severe mental retardation deviates from Greenspan's model, in which social and practical intelligence form separate factors. Application of confirmatory factor analysis to the original correlation matrix found the Greenspan model to be…

This paper discusses inconsistencies in Greenspan and McGrew's argument that confirmatory, rather than exploratory, factor analysis should be utilized in testing Greenspan's model of adaptive intelligence in adults with severe mental retardation. It is argued that problems with the data set should be addressed through further research rather than…

The measurement of the performance of schools is complicated by the need to adjust for differences in input mixes. Schools may have a differential effect on the performance of different types of pupils. Rather than a single performance indicator, a system of indicators is needed. Characteristics of a good indicator system are identified. (KDP)

This study assessed, in a naturalistic setting, the facilitated communication abilities of seven adolescents with moderate/severe mental retardation who used facilitated communication to communicate at levels previously thought beyond their intellectual abilities. Results revealed a large degree of guiding by facilitators. For some students,…