Answer keys for physician and teacher licensing examinations were studied. The impact of variability on total errors of measurement was examined for answer keys constructed using the aggregate method. Results indicated that, in some cases, scorers contributed to a sizable reduction in measurement error. (Author/GDC)

Recruited 109 college freshmen to evaluate test-retest reliability of videotaped scenario measure and questionnaire designed to assess interpersonal functions. Subjects responded to both measures at two assessment times. Found both measures to have adequate reliability. There were no sex differences, nor were subjects' responses related to measure…

Examines reasons for using essay tests in the direct assessment of writing ability. Reviews the steps in developing a large-scale testing program; e.g., creating a pool of topics or prompts; developing scoring procedures; training raters; field-testing the system; scoring writing samples; assessing reliability; and assessing validity. (DMM)

The impact of examiner/examinee familiarity and rapport on psychological test performance is reviewed. Drawing upon research involving hundreds of young handicapped and nonhandicapped children, it was found that certain handicapped children obtain higher scores when tested by familiar examiners. Implications for practice, theory, and personnel…

Compared the reliability and validity of three methods of measuring students' ability to articulate their career values. Cochran's method and idiosyncratic and standardized methods developed in response to problems with the Cochran method. Test-retest reliabilities for the three methods were .33, .66, and .19, respectively. The findings suggest…

Using listening check procedures, only 2 of 21 staff members at a school for the hearing impaired reliably and accurately rated the performance of hearing aids, suggesting that educators of the hearing impaired are inadequately prepared to evaluate hearing aid performance and that a more objective means of assessment is needed. (Author/CB)

Examined the performance of ninth-grade students on the Self-Directed Search during small group administrations monitored by a counselor. Results indicated scoring errors were high in comparison to norms. The percentage of erroneous summary codes was higher while transposition errors were lower, suggesting group administration with a proctor…

This study derives the economic costs of misclassification in nursing home patient classification systems. These costs are then used as weights to estimate the reliability of a functional assessment instrument. Results suggest that reliability must be redefined and remeasured with each substantively new application of an assessment instrument.…

Reports an evaluation of six sociometric measures (social preference, social impact, peer ratings, alternative status, and positive and negative nominations) on a sample of 85 four-year-olds from three preschool and day care centers. Implications for social skills intervention are discussed. (DR)

Psychologists and educational specialists with expertise in areas related to intelligence testing responded to a questionnaire dealing with possible racial and socioeconomic bias of IQ tests. Overall, experts hold positive attitudes about the validity and usefulness of intelligence and aptitude tests. (Author/LHW)

Reliability and validity were examined for three computerized case management simulations in counseling, administered to experienced counselors, and three samples representing different levels of professional training and experience. Reliability coefficients were moderately high. Significant relations were found between performance on the…

Techniques for constructing short forms of tests are discussed, and an example is given using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Reliability and validity estimation equations are presented. (GDC)

Partial correlation procedures were used to compare the reliability of ideational creativity in 225 academically gifted and nongifted fifth to eighth grade children. The divergent thinking interitem and intertest correlations of the gifted children were significantly larger than the nongifted. Ideational originality was reliable only in the…

Three professional associations, the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education, jointly adopted the new "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing" in 1985. The relationship of these to earlier standards is reviewed, and implications…

The Stanford Achievement Test Forms E and F were judged to be one of the best achievement batteries for assessing basic skills taught in grades one through nine. The test publisher provides several booklets in addition to the administration manual. These include the Norms Booklet, Handbook of Instructional Strategies, and Guide to Classroom…