This study tested the validity and reliability of the West Informal Reading Evaluation (WIRE), an unobtrusive screening device that identifies adult learners' reading abilities. Of the 154 students in basic education or high school completion courses who completed one form of WIRE, 123 subjects were administered another reading test that served as…

Five comparisons were made relative to the quality of estimates of ability parameters and item calibrations obtained from the one-parameter and three-parameter logistic models. The results indicate: (1) The three-parameter model fit the test data better in all cases than did the one-parameter model. For simulation data sets, multi-factor data were…

A military research study focused on the cost of on-the-job training (OJT) for enlisted men until they reach the proficiency level of journeyman, with objectives to develop a costing methodology for OJT sufficiently general to be used in almost any occupational specialty in any of the services and to pilot test that methodology and evaluate its…

Examines confusions that result from the use of the words "standardization,""reliability,""objectivity," and "validity" in connection with testing. (IRT)

The consumer of educational tests is not being protected and reforms are badly needed. (JH)

In contrast to Professor Irene R. Kiernan's negative impression of the validity of student ratings of faculty (Community and Junior College Journal, April, 1975), the author, by examining recent research findings, concludes that the majority of studies point to a positive relationship between student ratings and student learning. (Author/NHM)

Study supported by United States Public Health Service grant MH-13509

These two related papers provide information on teacher attitudes toward black dialect use in the classroom and the measurement of such attitudes. The first paper reports on data from 176 administrators, counselors, teachers, and student teachers, revealing significant relationships between a teacher's definition of black dialect, attitudes toward…

The secondary level English proficiency (SLEP) test is a group administered 150 item multiple-test of English language proficiency that includes two subscores and eight different item types. It is designed to assess a foreign student's readiness for English medium instruction at the secondary level. This paper reports on two studies which were…

A longitudinal study was conducted to assess (1) the validity of the Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire (DPDQ) in a predominantly black, lower socioeconomic population, and (2) the effect of an educational package in increasing parental accuracy in responses to the DPDQ. Randomly selected mothers of 127 infants enrolled in a follow-up…

The purpose of this study was to design a valid, reliable instrument that identifies and measures teachers' attitudes toward inservice programs. The study also sought to locate attitude differences between school sites. An attitude scale was developed in five stages: (1) identifying the nature of the possible attitude factors from current…