Focuses on regression effects that arise from measurement error, and examines methods used to evaluate pre- to post-therapy score changes that attempt to take these regression effects into account. Discusses statistical and practical problems, identifies and analyzes specific examples, and distinguishes objectives of these methods from other…

Suggests that assessment must be built into the curriculum and focused upon the kinds of skills students need. Considers much educational testing in writing to be reductionist, unrealistic, and detrimental to learning. Critiques writing assessment's trust and reliance on a single or small sample of student work collected and scored outside of a…

The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) represent a breakthrough in measuring early language production. Nevertheless, the CDIs' word comprehension component may not be a valid measure, because parents report too high a word comprehension ability for their children. Suggests that administering the CDIs to parents in an interview…

Developed two self-report measures of belongingness (social connectedness and social assurance) based on self psychology theory. Measures proved to be highly reliable and unidimensional. Social connectedness was related to one's opinion of self in relation to other people. Social assurance correlated with one's reliance on other people. (RJM)

The Paired-Associate Recognition Test (PART) was developed to test declarative memory using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test stimuli. The reliability and construct validity of the PART were studied with 55 healthy adults. Overall results indicate that the PART can be administered reliably and that it requires declarative memory processes. (SLD)

The validity of an alternative 5-factor measure of personality, the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), was assessed in 450 cocaine abusers. Results supported the validity of the ZKPQ. Internal consistency was generally good, and items loaded on the predicted factors. (SLD)

Construction, field testing with children with disabilities, and analysis of the preliminary version of the Preadolescent Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (PA-HOME) are described. The paper concludes that the assessment is a reasonably reliable scale with moderate correlations with other measures of the family environment.…

Describes several ways to view senior exhibits at an urban high school employing the Coalition of Essential Schools'"graduation by exhibition" assessment method. The coalition advocates a pedagogy combining a personalized, caring environment with a focus on student production. Judges must balance warm regard with cool, critical appraisal…

Examined psychometric properties of problem checklist used as part of counseling center intake procedure. Collected data from closed client files and examined frequency with which items were endorsed as presenting problems, factor structure, and reliability of subscales. Results indicated that checklist could be reduced to about one-half original…

Evaluation of the Worker Loneliness Questionnaire, with 51 persons with mild, moderate, and severe mental retardation found the measure to be a reliable instrument with this population. Results showed some individuals were lonely; however, this was not a pervasive feeling. (Author/DB)

Utterances from stuttering and normally speaking children, aged two through four years, were analyzed by clinicians specializing in stuttering, general clinicians, and university students (total n=25). Results indicated that the validity of the data language used by researchers to describe stuttered and normal speech in early childhood may be…

Calculated reliability estimates for the Mexican-American (n=160) and non-Hispanic white (n=1,569) standardization sample at 11 age levels on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children using computed variance components. Results suggest that the test is equally reliable for both non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American children at all age levels.…

A study of 125 sophomore preclinical dental students found that these young professionals, because of having a low prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibodies, are at risk for acquiring a primary HSV infection when treating HSV positive patients and should take precautions to avoid virus transmission. (MSE)

This study found that the restructured National Board Dental Examination Part II is a reliable test assessing a full range of cognitive behaviors, and a unidimensional test of comprehensive general dentistry, suggesting better testing of knowledge and problem-solving skills than on the traditional examination. Performance on the pilot and…

The Test of Knowledge about Mental Retardation was developed to measure attitudes, not knowledge. It consists of 20 error-choice items requiring respondents to select one of four incorrect alternatives. An additional 20 questions address general knowledge of mental retardation. Psychometric analysis indicates satisfactory item characteristics,…