The Intergenerational Exchanges Attitude Scale was tested by a sample of 36 adult day-care and 300 child-care administrators (227 responses). Both groups had positive attitudes toward the interaction of children and older adults. Reliability and validity of the instrument appeared viable. (SK)

Generalizability theory is used to show that the assumption that reliability for groups is greater than that for persons (and that error variance for groups is less than that for persons) is not necessarily true. Examples are provided from course evaluation and performance test literature. (SLD)

Psychometric data are presented for 223 children and adults with autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS), or nonspectrum diagnoses who took the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic. Within each module, diagnostic groups were equivalent on expressive language levels. Results indicate substantial…

Reviews the articles in this issue of "School Psychology Quarterly" and briefly compares their methods for identifying profile patterns. Argues that subtest profile patterns on the existing generation of intelligence tests have modest reliability and weak relationships with achievement and diagnostic categorizations. (Contains 13…

By asking several questions, educators can ensure that instructional decisions are based on data from sound assessment instruments. Teachers must consider an instrument's purpose, its effects on improving instruction, its strengths and weaknesses, variables affecting student performance and teacher perception of performance, and what to do…

Comparability of a Spanish language translation of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) was examined in relation to the English language version. Children were rated concurrently by respondents on English and Spanish versions of the PKBS. Results showed virtually identical internal consistency of scores on both forms on Social…

This study examined the validity and reliability of a staff-completed rating instrument (to determine relationship patterns and compatibility during the resettlement of 57 people with learning difficulties from a hospital to group home settings in Wales). Although ratings were relatively consistent across raters, there was limited support for the…

Using an independent college sample, examines the characteristics of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability-Revised. Differences exists in subtest performance based on the order in which the Standard and Supplemental Batteries were administered. Gender differences exist on the Visual Matching, Picture Vocabulary and Cross Out subtests.…

The internal reliability and concurrent validity of the Play Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) was compared to that of the Minnesota Child Development Inventory with 170 deaf or hard of hearing infants and toddlers. The PAQ was found to be a useful nonverbal tool that assesses symbolic play behaviors and demonstrates a parallel development with…

Looks at the use of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the most widely used test to assess the English language proficiency of students applying to colleges and universities in the United States or Canada. Examines the TOEFL in relation to backwash, reliability, administration, validity, and ethics. (Author/VWL)

Establishes a Kenyan standardization of the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM), a nonverbal instrument widely used to assess academic aptitude in young children. Data was gathered from a sample of 1,370 children between the ages of 6 and 10 years. Using the current data, the RCPM appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for use in…

Although instructional methods are moving in ever greater number to a multimedia base, testing is not. What principles should be considered in correcting this misalignment?

Kowalski and Zimiles (2006) and O'Hanlon and Roberson (2006) address an age-old question: Why do children find it difficult to learn color terms? Here these articles are reflected on, providing a focused examination of the issues central to this question. First, the criteria by which children are said to find color naming difficult are considered.…

The random-effects facet model that deals with local item dependence in many-facet contexts is presented. It can be viewed as a special case of the multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logit model (MRCMLM) so that the estimation procedures for the MRCMLM can be directly applied. Simulations were conducted to examine parameter recovery…

Psychometric theory focuses primarily on tests that are homogeneous, measuring only one attribute of a psychosocial entity. However, the complexity of psychosocial behavior often requires tests that are heterogeneous, measuring more than one attribute. In this presentation, reliability and internal consistency are extended to heterogeneous tests…