A three-year study compared entry-level and junior-level clinically oriented reading and writing skills of 231 medical students. Entry-level skills were found to be the best predictors of clinical skills. Inclusion of communication skills training in admission criteria and/or medical curriculum are recommended. (Author/MSE)

A study investigated possible relationships between performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners Part I exam and personality types to identify learning styles that may predict difficulty with that kind of testing. Results show the tests are most difficult for the personality types most easily admitted to medical school. (MSE)

In a two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni-type follow-up to detect biased items on Forms A and B of the test found that bias-in-item difficulty occurred for the Mexican-American and White groups. The need to examine the issue and reconsider popular conceptualizations of bias in testing is shown. (Author/CM)

In discriminant analyses of student performance on medical science certifying examinations developed by the faculties at a parent campus and regional campus, curriculum bias in examination items was shown to exist. Test construction procedures and exchange and review by faculties were found inadequate to prevent curriculum dependence. (Author/CM)

Found that particular college of undergraduate degree was a predictor of problems in orientation, academics, social-personal living-dining, student-activities and placement areas for Nigerian students. Except in the area of finance, undergraduate respondents reported more problems than graduate respondents. (Author)

Results of this study demonstrate student-instructor agreement on evaluations of teaching effectiveness, support the validity of student ratings for both graduate and undergraduate courses, and emphasize the importance of using multifactor rating scales that are derived through the application of factor analysis. (Author/AL)

Instruments were developed to measure aspects of self-identity: sex role identity, identification with parents, and personal identity. The instruments were tried out and tested for construct validity. Analysis provided evidence that self-identity is developmental, as indicated by significant differences in personal identity measures among adults,…

Explores the practice of basing college admissions decisions on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) over conventional achievement tests. Suggests that the SAT does not reward diligence, and the SAT implies that secondary school instruction is unimportant. Supports changing the admissions system to reward those who learn most in secondary school.…

Evaluated two measures of social function in 195 older adults who underwent neurological, cognitive, and affective assessment. Found the Functional Activities Questionnaire superior to the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale in discriminating among functional levels and in predicting neurologist ratings and cognitive scores. (Author)

If researchers want to get at secondary students' true feelings and at their true usage figures of drugs, it is strongly recommended that questionnaires contain the "I now use..." category for anchoring the usage items and "I feel..." for soliciting general items. (RL)

Studied factors associated with family treatment: attendance and continuation as related to chronicity of the presenting problem, nature of referral source, initial clinical perceptions of family and predictions about termination, and family attendance in evaluation and treatment sessions. Attendance and continuation were not related with family…

Compared the factoral structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) for Anglo, Black, and Mexican-American children. Found high similarity across groups. The order of subtest difficulty was significantly correlated with subtest g loadings for Mexican Americans. Results provide support for Spearman's hypothesis with…

Reports on the development of a group self-reporting diagnostic reading attitude measure designed to assess instructional and recreational reading attitudes of elementary school children within a classroom setting. Concludes that the instrument is valid, reliable, and easy to administer and score. (FL)

Describes the development, validity, and reliability (0.91 to 0.94) of a 50-item, Likert-format scale to measure students' attitudes toward science in grades 4 through 12 (N=806). (Author/JN)

Selected offender classification practices, past and present, are reviewed. Megargee's requirements for a "good" classification system are amplified, and a critique of several current approaches is provided. The role of classification deficiencies in prison conditions litigation is summarized. Guidelines from commissions, courts, scholars, and…