A study was conducted to construct measures of reading competencies that are frequently needed in an occupational environment and to describe the influence of the components of reading practice on these competencies based on the conceptual framework of ethnographic psychology. The reading practices of 25 electrical engineers and 30 electronic…

Six basic questions that are important to consider in foreign language testing are often taken for granted: (1) What is it that a student "knows" when he or she has acquired a foreign language, and is it measured in qualitative or quantitative terms or both? (2) What are the roles of skills and attitudes in learning a foreign language?…

This report describes the second phase in the development of the University of Washington Teacher Assessment System designed to produce a new system for the evaluation of student teachers. The development of the new system took place in several phases. Phase one, a literature search as a data source for the development of a teacher assessment…

This manual is intended to guide evaluators, special needs personnel, private practitioners, manpower training instructors, and others in selecting, using, and modifying psychological tests within an evaluation or assessment setting. The first section discusses reasons for using tests in vocational evaluation, problems in using the tests, testing…

This book discusses tricks for answering questions on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The tricks are based on an analysis of 12 editions of the LSAT which have been made public pursuant to New York's Truth in Testing Law. Sample LSAT questions published by the Law School Admission Council are referenced to exemplify the tricks' applications…

This book discusses tricks for answering questions on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The tricks are based on an analysis of 20 editions of the GMAT which have been made public pursuant to New York's Truth in Testing Law. Sample GMAT questions published by the Graduate Management Admission Council are referenced to exemplify the…

Six university English departments collaborated in this examination of the differences between multiple-choice and essay tests in evaluating writing skills. The study also investigated ways the two tools can complement one another, ways to improve cost effectiveness of essay testing, and ways to integrate assessment and the educational process.…

This paper reviews 18 microcomputer software item banks on an individual basis. Software Programs reviewed are AIMS (Academic Instructional Measurement System); CREATE-A-TEST; Exam Builder; Exams and Examiner; MicroCAT; Multiple Choice Files; P.D.Q. Builder; Quiz Rite; Teacher Create Series (5 programs); TAP (Testing Authoring Program); TestBank…

Methodological and conceptual issues arising from a study of student perceptions of secondary school class climate are discussed. Through a pilot study, 113 Likert-type items were collected, consisting of teacher-focused dimensions, classroom-focused dimensions, and instructional practices. Factor and cluster analyses were used at the item level.…

UNIACT, a major component of the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment Program, is one of the first interest inventories to employ a new technique for ensuring sex fairness in the reporting of scores. UNIACT was constructed with the goal that distributions of career options suggested to males and females would be similar. It is intended to…

This handbook for teachers of kindergarten through grade twelve was developed to assist those who administer or construct tests. The publication was written in response to a Montgomery County Public Schools citizens' advisory committee recommendation that reflected concern about the need to improve students' test-taking skills. The handbook…

The effect on children's test scores of different item formats used in standardized mathematics achievement tests was investigated. In a Utah school, 40 second grade students completed a mathematics computation test using eight different formats derived from five standardized achievement tests. Identical content, taken from the most frequently…

Designed to be a tool for curriculum and instructional development consistent with assessment of the state objectives in reading, this teaching and testing guide provides a summary of the skills that should be considered instructionally and how each objective is tested. Information is included on state objectives for reading teachers for grades 4,…

Intended for adult basic education teachers faced with the need to assess students who are terrified of tests, this resource unit guide presents several devices that can be used to assess both precise and general learning patterns in nonthreatening ways. The opening section of the guide stresses the importance of establishing priorities and goals…

An approach was developed based on item-response models defined at the level of salient subject groups rather than at the level of individuals, designed for use with multiple-matrix sampling designs. In each of three National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics subtopics, Reiser's group-effects latent trait model was fitted to…