The Assessment of Computer Task Performance was developed to evaluate the performance of children with low vision when using sequences of actions that result in a computer command. Results with 22 students (ages 4-12) show that four standardized tasks have high reliability and one has a moderate degree of reliability. (Contains references.)…

The Collis Attitudes toward Computers Survey, developed by B. Collis (1984) for a secondary school population, was tested with 305 college students attending the University of Winnipeg (Canada). Results support the reliability and generalizability of the survey and identified one dominant factor--personal interest and enjoyment of computers. (SLD)

A study of the long-term stability of Graduate Record Examination scores for graduate program admission purposes investigated the changes in scores among test repeaters. Results suggest that long-term test repeaters have greater gains on verbal than quantitative tests. Explanations and implications are considered. (MSE)

Formulas are provided for estimating the reliability of a linear composite of non-equivalent subtests given the reliabilities of component subtests. The reliability of the composite is compared to that of its components. An empirical example uses data from 170 children aged 4 through 8 years performing 34 Piagetian tasks. (SLD)

Investigates differences in marking standard and reliability when experienced teachers carried out assessments of the performance on practical exercises. The results showed that there was no difference between the assessments from the groups containing 5 and 20 students. (Author/YP)

A 34-item instrument for assessing attitudes about merit pay for teachers was developed and administered to 237 teachers and 86 administrators. Two months later, in a replication study, the instrument was administered to 193 teachers, 107 administrators, and 135 parents. The instrument has high reliability. (SLD)

A model and computation procedure based on classical test score theory are presented for determination of a correlation coefficient corrected for attenuation due to unreliability. Delta and Monte Carlo method applications are discussed. A power analysis revealed no serious loss in efficiency resulting from correction for attentuation. (TJH)

A comparison of the holistic, error-count, and categorical methods of assessing written work presents disadvantages and advantages in terms of validity, reliability, and efficiency. The results of a pilot study indicate that the error-count method may provide the most benefits. (CB)

A test of pharmacists' practice knowledge, for use in professional continuing education, was developed by having practitioners prepare 673 assessment items related to specific competencies. Item pool was refined by psychometric evaluation and content validation. Two parallel tests, each containing 120 items, were pilot-tested with first-year…

Reviews recent theoretical, methodological, and analytical developments in language testing, focusing on more refined models of language ability, reliability and validity, performance testing, innovative test formats, new applications of Item Response Theory and Generalizability Theory to test performance. An annotated bibliography discusses seven…

The Child Behavior Checklist and related forms were completed for 171 boys referred for school-based assessment resulting from academic and/or behavioral problems. Adolescents consistently underreported behavioral problems relative to parents and teachers regardless of subsequent diagnosis. Implications of these discrepancies in school-based…

A study developed and validated the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS), a teacher-rating instrument of the interactive play behaviors of preschool children. Thirty-eight teachers completed the measure on 312 African American children enrolled in Head Start. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three reliable underlying dimensions: play…

Defines computer assisted language testing (CALT), discusses the various processes involved, outlines the advantages and disadvantages, and examines psychometric aspects of computer testing. A table of factors distinguishes between test content and the mechanics of test taking. These factors constitute a table for developing a CALT checklist. (24…

Considers the bases of criticism of parent report as an index of their children's behavioral development and ways in which problems associated with parent report were addressed in the construction of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs). Examines the nature of responses elicited from parents as they complete the CDIs. (BC)

In a counterbalanced, within subjects, repeated measures design, 130 undergraduates were administered the Computer-Assisted Hypnosis Scale (CAHS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale and were hypnotized. The CAHS was shown to be a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring hypnotic ability. (SLD)