An alternative biweight estimator based on Tukey's is examined in which (1) test disturbances are not assumed to be the same for all subjects, (2) each response is utilized proportional to its value, and (3) the biweight and maximum likelihood estimate agree when no disturbances are present. Smaller mean-squared errors are shown. (Author/CM)

This study introduces the individual consistency index (ICI), which measures the extent to which patterns of responses to parallel sets of items remain consistent over time. ICI is used as an error diagnostic tool to detect aberrant response patterns resulting from the consistent application of erroneous rules of operation. (Author/PN)

Compared three instruments assessing depression in alcoholics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale (MMPI D), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The number of subjects who were diagnosed as "depressed" varied considerably according to the…

Reports progress made toward developing a scale for measuring the reading attitudes of college students. Presents the scale, along with an answer key and a worksheet for scoring and interpreting results. (FL)

Attempts to reevaluate the reliability characteristics of two scales used frequently in studies of children's locus of control; the Bialer scale and the Nowicki-Strickland scale. The study replicated and expanded upon earlier research by examining a wider range of grade levels and measures of children's locus of control expectancies. (Author/RH)

The perceptual assessment of voice disorders by speech pathologists and interjudge reliability were investigated through screening of 160 children (4-14 years old). Results demonstrated poor interjudge agreement between the listeners and indicate a need for more objective measures in the identification of voice disorders. (Author/SEW)

This paper reports the development and standardization of the Moral Development Scale (MDS), an individually-administered set of tasks designed to assess the overall level of moral reasoning within a Piagetian framework. Data are presented on the scale's reliability and validity as well as norms derived from the cross-validation sample. (Author/BW)

Data are presented to support the reliability, validity, and utility of a procedure to assess the severity of a phonological disorder. The severity metric, the percentage of consonants correct (PCC), is readily derived from a continuous speech sample. PCC values index four levels of severity of involvement: mild, mild-moderate, moderate-severe,…

Four hundred twenty-five liberal arts students completed one form of the Self-Assessment Questionnaires developed to help college students identify occupations consistent with their major field of study. The analyses indicate that the reliability and validity of the inventory appears adequate for counseling purposes. (Author/PN)

Results from the testing of 23 eighth grades with the Structure of Intellect (S.O.I.) Learning Abilities Test to discriminate among abilities and needs of different groups of children indicated the test could be used to identify children with potential learning problems, diagnose needs, and aid educators to select appropriate programs. (MC)

Raters' agreement and the relative consistency of diving judges at a boy's competition were analyzed using intraclass correlations within 16 position x type combinations. Judges' variance was significant for 5 of the 16 combinations. Point estimates were generally greater for consistency than for raters' agreement about scores. (Author/CM)

The Flesch reading formula is questioned as being appropriate for evaluating college economics textbooks. The Dale-Chall, Modified Dale-Chall, Fry, and Flesch formulas were used to evaluate nine introductory textbooks. There was little or no consistency in either the absolute reading levels or the rank orderings. (Author/AM)

Examined the utility of the aggregation method as a measure of behavioral consistency in 26 studies involving computer-generated, repeated-measurement data. Concluded that aggregation produces spuriously high estimates of behavioral consistency. The Spearman-Brown prophecy formula and coefficient alpha accurately predict the results of the…

The Career Exploration Survey (CES) consists of seven measures of the career exploration process, three reactions, and six beliefs. Dimensionality, reliability, and validity data are presented for four studies comprising 680 observations across 601 individuals. Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting, Academy of Management, San Diego, CA, August…

In time-on-task observations, the effects of variations in methodological characteristics on the importance of time-on-task for student achievement were examined. Substantive conclusions were affected by variations in five areas with the greatest differences due to changes in the duration and number of days of observation. (CM)