A study examined the relationship between Optometry Admission Test scores and pre-optometry or undergraduate grade point average (GPA) with first and second year performance in optometry schools. The test's predictive validity was limited but significant, and comparable to those reported for other admission tests. In addition, the scores…

Performance assessment tests have been problematic, and states that have experimented with them have had poor results. The tests have been implemented prematurely and before being adequately researched, which has resulted in problems related to test validity and scoring, student bluffing on answers, high failure rates, accuracy, and student…

Alternative assessments reflect the kinds of learning activities that current cognitive and curriculum theories advocate. Assessment has a role in promoting new standards for student performance. To fill this role, assessment must be aligned with standards, be fair to all students, have accurate measures, and be useful, feasible, and credible. (SM)

Suggests a test to assess the language proficiency of second language teachers prior to their admission to teacher education programs in Canada or their being hired by a school board. The themes explored include education in general, classroom organization, stories as told by teachers and learners, and different forms of communication. (21…

The Lifestyle Satisfaction Scale (LSS) has been found among American samples to be influenced by types of accommodation (representing variations in level of lifestyle restriction). This study of 46 adults with mental retardation in Australia supported the discriminate validity of the LSS, and identified ways in which location and other factors…

Suggests a role for "authentic measurement" using performance measures in task-based approaches to assessment and describes the implementation of a task-based, performance-referenced test of English for academic purposes (EAP) developed to place English as a Second Language college students. Results suggest that skills-focused tests of EAP ability…

The authors of a report on the technical adequacy of alternative reading measures reflect on issues concerning "whole language" terminology, the use of both quantitative and qualitative measures, and instructional decision making. (DB)

Reports on the initial results of a predictive validity study of the College Maladjustment (Mt) Scale. Results indicate that Mt scale scores were significantly associated with total number of client contacts, number of scheduled appointments, frequency of contacts, and number of cancellations. Suggests that Mt scale has some predictive validity.…

Results from a translated and revalidated measure of moral judgment completed by 161 Belgian adolescents and young adults and from a measure of religious judgment completed by 142 subjects support the usefulness of a questionnaire to measure religious judgment and provide information about its relationship to moral judgment in young adults. (SLD)

Intelligence quotient profiles in 81 high-functioning children and adults with autism were examined. Profiles did not reveal the presumed typical pattern of a lower verbal IQ than performance IQ. Results found that individuals with autism demonstrated a wide range of ability levels and patterns on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, without a single…

Discusses platform unity, or aligning curriculum content with appropriate test types. Presents findings from a survey of 30 Virginia community college faculty, indicating that the faculty did not plan and test content congruently, tended to overtest content, and were effective but not efficient in test selection. (25 citations) (AJL)

Discusses the validity of a rating scale created by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages for the purpose of measuring the oral language proficiency of bilingual professionals who are speakers of English and Spanish. Notes that this scale measures various levels of competence and features of an individual's speech. (14…

Administered an ability scale to 53 children identified as having a learning disability approximately three years after each had been administered an intelligence scale. Results indicate that the ability scale correlated highly with the intelligence test. Differences in scores in specific measures were nonsignificant. Other findings are discussed.…

Efficiency, precision, and concurrent validity of results from adaptive and fixed-item music listening tests were studied using: (1) 2,200 simulated examinees; (2) 204 live examinees; and (3) 172 live examinees. Results support the usefulness of adaptive tests for measuring skills that require aurally produced items. (SLD)

A study compared the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI) for assessing the maladaptive behavior of 226 adults, mostly with severe or profound mental retardation. Individuals with elevated BPI scores generally had higher ABC scores, however, the extent of covariation differed across subscales. (Contains…