Explored the relationship between the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) administered to a sample of 29 mentally retarded children. Findings indicated that the PPVT-R predicted achievement as measured by the PIAT only moderately; and that PPVT-R scores correlated with achievement…

Discusses the relationship between subjective evaluation and objective measures of ESL writing proficiency. Objective measures used in this study accounted for 84 percent of the variance of subjective grades assigned to a sample of compositions. Author suggests that training readers can be important to the reliability and the validity of the…

Shows that synonymic scoring of cloze tests is highly variable--that the score seems to appear simply on who grades the test. (FL)

Examines two sets of variables that influence age-related patterns of text recall--the effects of verbal ability level and text structure variables on text recall of younger, middle-aged, and older adults. Results indicate that age differences in the discovery and utilization of the organizational structure of texts were found to be mediated by…

Concludes that potential users of the Clymer-Barrett Readiness Test should exercise caution in drawing inferences or conclusions about children on the basis of anything other than raw score data associated with the measure. (FL)

Regression analyses indicated that the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory has convergent validity with regard to the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale and the Coopersmith Behavioral Academic Assessment Scale, has discriminant validity with regard to the Children's Social Desirability Scale, is sensitive to differences in achievement level,…

Examined the applicability of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30) to clinical populations to identify and measure frequency of ideation associated with depression. Findings showed significant differences between clinically depressed treatment-seeking clients and nondepressed samples and significant correlation with other widely used…

A low-cost personal computer was interfaced with a Benedict-Roth type spirometer to simplify laboratory testing for pulmonary function. Data analysis methods and test reliability are discussed. (PP)

A procedure for determining the reliability of an examinee knowing k out of n possible multiple choice items given his or her performance on those items is presented. Also, a scoring procedure for determining which items an examinee knows is presented. (Author/JKS)

This paper describes the development of two scales designed to assess teacher tolerance levels, expectations, and standards for children's social behavior associated with handicapping conditions: the SBS Inventory of Teacher Social Behavior Standards and Expectations, and the SBS Checklists of Correlates of Child Handicapping Conditions.…

Examined the reliability of the Rucker-Gable Educational Programming Scale (RGEPS) in a study involving 200 college students and investigated whether the reduction in reliability was due to either content inequivalence or attribute instability. Findings suggested the scale is only moderately reliable, and that attribute instability contributed to…

Tested Erikson's theory of an ego integrity versus despair crisis in old age using interviews with 40 older adults. Four integrity statuses were defined: integrity achieving, dissonant, foreclosed, despairing. Results supported the validity of the integrity status construct and the interview designed to measure it. (JAC)

Details of a reasonably precise normalization technique for coefficient alpha are outlined, along with methods for estimating the variance of the normalized statistic. These procedures lead to the K-sample significance test. (RC)

In order to determine whether the success of the Personalized System of Instruction is due to the unit testing procedure or the study questions prior to examinations, this study compares student achievement on course examinations after required unit testing, optional unit testing, and absence of testing. (Author/RK)

While a variety of scales and instruments to measure parental support exist, most of these have not received adequate analysis. Utilizing two bodies of data, the widely used Heilbrun, Cornell, and Schaefer measures of parental support were examined. Results are presented. (Author)