This critical evaluation of the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) determined that the test items are 30 years old, scores are derived from a nonrepresentative norm group, and scores are not interchangeable with other intelligence measures. The paper concludes that the SIT is unsuited for educational decision-making purposes, including screening,…

The Psychological Maltreatment Rating Scales (PMRS) were developed for assessing psychological maltreatment in the mother-child interaction, and were used to rate the videotaped interaction of 49 high-risk mother-child dyads and predict child protective service involvements. The PMRS was found to be a moderately reliable and valid measure.…

Today's educational goals are too varied to be adequately evaluated only by conventional tests and measures. The wide variability of adolescents' development requires assessment devices that transcend the limitations of traditional paper-and-pencil assessments. Assessment should be continuous, comprehensive, multidimensional, collaborative, and…

Describes the development, validation, and testing of the Mexican American Attitude and Knowledge Scale (MAAKS) which measures knowledge of and attitudes toward traditional, less acculturated Mexican American culture among university students. The MAAKS was established as a valid, reliable instrument for use with college students. (SM)

In this interview, an Educational Testing Service (ETS) staff person outlines the three program components, as well as program development, pilot testing, and implementation plans for "The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers." Issues related to equity and computer-assisted testing are also examined. (IAH)

The purpose of this study was to obtain validity and reliability indexes for scores on a 12-item scale measuring family perspectives on extended school year (ESY) programs for students in special education. Responses from 128 families with a child potentially eligible for ESY programs indicated that a two-component model was both valid and…

A study compared the accuracy of experienced staff with a learning test in predicting the ability of 18 persons with mental retardation to learn 12 training tasks. Results found the Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities test was more accurate for predicting client performance than the assessments of experienced staff. (Author/CR)

This study compared four commonly used vocabulary tests to screen or identify preschool children for specific language impairment (SLI). Four- and five-year olds with (N=31) and without (N=31) SLI were compared on the tests. Despite moderate to strong inter-test correlations, no test was a strong identifier of SLI. (Author/DB)

Testing and assessment in English-for-Academic-purposes (EAP) contexts has traditionally been carried out as a needs analysis of learners or a content analysis of courses. This article reassesses this approach to the development and validation of EAP tests on the basis of a theoretical model and recent research into content specificity. (VWL)

Investigated whether children's ability to recognize themselves in delayed video feedback indicates change in self awareness. Parallel results in both conditions studied, and the likelihood of false positives and false negatives indicate that the video test in its present form may not be a valid measure of differences in self-awareness. (Author)

Argues for the inclusion of assessment coursework as a necessary component in teacher education through a demonstration of the relationship between test validity and the law. Focuses on the seventh assessment competency listed in the Standards for Teacher Competence in Educational Assessment of Students: recognizing unethical, illegal, and…

A study examined the role of career maturity in the college persistence of 307 freshmen at a public, residential, four-year college. Results indicate that the My Vocational Situation instrument is reliable and valid, although theoretical formulations should be reexamined. Career maturity was positively associated with several variables important…

Examined whether the Teacher Concerns Questionnaire-Physical Education (TCQ-PE) was representative of concerns of British and Belgian preservice and inservice physical educators. Preservice and inservice secondary-level physical educators completed the TCQ-PE before and after student teaching. Neither Belgian nor British data predicted the TCQ-PE…

To assess the psychometric characteristics of the Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale, the 15-item questionnaire was administered to pairs of caregivers of 115 individuals with developmental disabilities. Exploratory factor analysis involving 11 more participants revealed evidence concerning the distinction of three different communicative functions…

This study examined dynamic assessment as a less biased evaluation procedure for assessing the language-learning ability of Native American young children (N=23) identified as either stronger or weaker language learners. Through a test-teach-test protocol, participants were taught principles of categorization. Results supported the further…