Discusses characteristics reading passages must have if they are to be used for main idea assessment. Analyzes each grade one to grade six passage on the Analytical Reading Inventory, Basic Reading Inventory, and Informal Reading Inventory, assessing suitability for use in main idea assessment. Finds many passages are unsuitable. (MM)

This study, involving five college students observing behavior of individuals with mental retardation, found that interobserver agreement was better in the presence of certain stimuli (such as when the subject's peers were present versus when they were not). Of 10 additional variables thought to potentially affect agreement scores, 1 (can't see,…

Further examines the reliability of the Developing Understanding of Self and Others Affectivity Assessment Device by increasing the sample size from previous studies, and by including samples for the second, third, and fourth grade. All correlations were in the range of the two previous studies. (JPS)

Determined reliability and validity of trait form of Depression Adjective Checklist (DACL) for Sets 1 and 2 with adolescents in grades 7 through 9 (Set 1, n=199) and grades 8 through 12 (Set 2, n=380). Internal consistency, split-half, test-retest, and alternate form reliability were high, as was convergent and discriminant validity. (Author/NB)

Translated Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, Life Satisfaction Index, and Affect Balance Scale into Castilian Spanish and Catalan and obtained responses to instruments from 151 elderly persons living in Spain. Reliability estimates for Life Satisfaction Index and Affect Balance subscales were comparable to those for English-speaking…

This literature review examined the congruence between parental estimates and professionals' assessments of the abilities of children with disabilities. Results suggest that there are strong, positive correlations between parental and professional judgments, and that methodology relates to the degree of congruence between parental and professional…

Composite reliability and standard errors of measurement were computed for prorated Verbal, Performance, and Full-Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) scores from a seven-subtest short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Results with 1,880 adults (standardization sample) indicate that this form is as reliable as the complete test.…

This study examined the comparability and predictive validity of three approaches to measurement of child or adolescent maltreatment, involving the adolescents themselves (n=160), case file review by researchers, and protection agency social workers. Comparison of ratings across sources indicated considerable disagreement with respect to judgments…

Eighty normally hearing children (ages 4 to 8) judged the clarity of sentences that were systematically bandpass-filtered to increase intelligibility. Study of 10 subjects at each age found that children 5 years or older were able to make reliable clarity judgements using paired comparisons or category rating; however, the method of paired…

Observers and mothers rated infant behavior in the home on dimensions of temperament once a week for eight weeks. Although week-to-week correlations were modest, aggregates of the eight observations had high reliability for both observers and mothers. When direct observations were compared with mother reports, little evidence of mother-observer…

Studied African American culture, using a new, shortened, 33-item African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS-33) to assess the scale's validity and reliability. Comparisons between the original form and AAAS-33 reveal high correlations, however, the longer form may be sensitive to some beliefs, practices, and attitudes not assessed by the short…

Details a social constructionist reconfiguration of metaphor analysis (SCMA) that is advanced as a powerful, reflexive analytic tool for discourse-centered social constructionist investigations. Applies SCMA to a body of organizational socialization discourse and illuminates a set of prevailing assumptions that both enable and disable…

Both expectancy-theory and needs-theory variables were used to predict college student performance (overall grade point average) for 81 students. The average valence variable from the expectancy theory model was found to be the best overall predictor of actual academic performance, but the need for autonomy score was also a predictor. (SLD)

A study of 100 article citations from 11 library science journals showed only 45 article citations that were completely free of errors, while 11 had major errors--i.e., errors preventing or hindering location of the reference--and the remaining 44 had minor errors. Citation accuracy in library science journals appears similar to accuracy in other…

Discusses characteristics that attract parents to family day care providers. These characteristics include the caregiver's reliability, credibility, appearance, responsiveness, and ability to be empathetic. (BB)