Trained junior high school students were compared with untrained students on comprehension and recall after both were told to construct questions while reading text passages. Results indicate that training improved the question quality only for those students who had above average pretest free recall scores. (Author/LMO)

Describes a study conducted with undergraduate psychology students to determine if the relationship between expectancy measured shortly before an examination and subsequent achievement can be accounted for by the possible common antecedents of previous achievement, past effort expenditure, and perceived ability. (MBR)

Three short forms of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) have been developed to screen the cognitive skills of young children suspected of learning disorders and developmental delays. Correlations were obtained between scores on the full form of the MSCA and the Kaufman, Taylor, and McCarthy Screening Test short forms. (Author/LMO)

Borkowski and Krause (1983) concluded that the locus of black-white intelligence differences lies in metaprocesses not elementary cognitive processes. However, some variables were difference scores with unacceptably low reliability. Magnitude comparisons of racial differences give a different picture of results; comparable differences in measures…

Scores derived from the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory (SEI), Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS), Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT), and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control (LOC) Scale were analyzed. Significant correlations were obtained between scores on these instruments. Race and SIT scores and age and LOC scores were also…

Describes a study of media deprivation which analyzed data on 215 adolescents collected during a Swedish television strike in 1980. Notions of dependency/affinity with the medium, functional alternatives to media consumption, and motives for using television were investigated. (MBR)

For each of six randomly selected elementary students, their teachers were asked to predict whether the student had responded correctly or incorrectly to selected items on a standardized achievement test that recently had been administered in the district. Results were consistent with other research. (Author/LMO)

Noting that college students have a higher incidence of loneliness than any other group, this study explores the relationships between loneliness and personality/interactional constructs such as assertiveness, Machiavellianism, self-monitoring, etc. Results suggest that lonely people find communication difficult, supporting the value of a…

Discusses the problems associated with "grading on a curve," the approach often used for standard setting on language proficiency tests. Proposes four main steps presented in the setting of a non-arbitrary cut-score. These steps not only establish a proficiency standard checked by external criteria, but also check to see that the test covers the…

Investigated relationships relative to teenagers' videogame playing, watching violent television programs, antisocial behavior, and self-esteem. Concluded that videogame playing is neither the menace critics portray it nor without possible negative consequences. (PD)

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) includes questions to assess serious psychological distress (SPD) and substance use. SPD is an overall indicator of nonspecific psychological distress. This report examines serious psychological distress and substance use among young adult males aged 18 to 25, a relatively understudied group with…

Several methods for estimating item response theory scores for multiple subtests were compared. These methods included two multidimensional item response theory models: a bi-factor model where each subtest was a composite score based on the primary trait measured by the set of tests and a secondary trait measured by the individual subtest, and a…

In a previous Illinois Education Research Council (IERC) policy research report, The Distribution of Teacher Quality in Illinois (IERC 2005-1), we introduced the Illinois Teacher Quality Index (TQI). The TQI is a school-level indicator of teacher quality that describes a school's concentration of certain teacher attributes that research suggests…

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a connection between quality of education obtained by superintendents in educational administration programs and school effectiveness as measured by student achievement. The best fitting model based on the model deviance test and accounting for the greatest variation in the outcome variable,…

This paper provides an overview of the methods and results of alignment analyses and standard-setting procedures used in investigations conducted during the development of alternate assessments in two states: Wisconsin and Idaho. To meet the assessment and accountability mandates contained in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act…