Twelve children (ages 7-8) with attention deficit hyperactive disorder were administered the Selective Auditory Attention Test twice: after the administration of methylphenidate and after the administration of a placebo. Results revealed no simple drug effect but a strong order effect. (Author/JDD)

Describes the development of an evaluation instrument, the Environment Rating Scale for Public Library Children's Services, that addresses the need to know how effectively the public library is serving children's needs. Field tests of the first draft and reliability testing of the second draft are described, and future plans are discussed. (nine…

This article reviews the literature addressing uses of the American College Testing College Outcome Measures Program (ACT COMP), the most frequently used standardized measure of cognitive general education outcomes. It concludes that worthwhile evaluations of ACT COMP uses require well-crafted general education program evaluations. Recommendations…

Analysis of nearly 1,800 essays written by 17-year-old African-American students were examined in terms of the frequency and distribution of Black English Vernacular (BEV) and the covariance of BEV with rater scores. Results suggests that BEV has converged with Edited American/Standard English and that students were not penalized for BEV in…

This study established content validity and reliability for the Infant Behavioral Summarized Evaluation, a rating scale for young children with autism. Analysis of videotapes for 89 children (ages 6-48 months) revealed a significant group of 19 items, including characteristic early autistic behaviors and some less commonly described (such as…

Bayley's major contributions to developmental psychology are reviewed. These include her concern with measurement and methodology and her early anticipation of such topics as behavior genetics. Her work in such areas as androgyny and body build, motor and mental development, and maternal and child behaviors is summarized. (LB)

Implications of ignoring correlated error on parameter estimates in some simple structural equation models are examined. It is shown analytically and empirically through simulation that ignoring positive between-construct correlated error overestimates the structural parameter linking the two constructs. Effects become more pronounced with…

This study, involving 40 normal-hearing 6 year olds, substantiates the form equivalence of the Selective Auditory Attention Test. Analysis shows equal mean difficulty and significant correlations between lists in quiet and between lists presented with competing speech. (Author/JDD)

Derivations of several item selection algorithms for use in fitting test items to target information functions (IFs) are described. These algorithms, which use an average growth approximation of target IFs, were tested by generating six test forms and were found to provide reliable fit. (SLD)

Developed and validated Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity Inventory with trainees and supervisors in practicum, internship, and postinternship settings. Role difficulties were predictive of more work-related anxiety, general work dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction with supervision. Beginning trainees reported more role ambiguity than experienced…

Rater errors (rater severity, halo effect, central tendency, and restriction of range) are described, and criteria are presented for evaluating rating quality based on a many-faceted Rasch (FACETS) model. Ratings of 264 compositions from the Eighth Grade Writing Test in Georgia by 15 raters illustrate the discussion. (SLD)

Analysis of the internal medicine clinical rotations of 43 University of Michigan medical students revealed that students saw many kinds of medical problems but few instances of each and that there were wide gaps in exposure to some typical ambulatory care problems. Student skill gains did not correlate with problem types encountered. (MSE)

In a survey, 1,851 registered nurses evaluated 232 internists' humanistic qualities, communication skills, and selected aspects of their clinical skills. Their ratings corresponded moderately with peer physician evaluations and had a common structure but were lower for several humanistic qualities. A reliable assessment required 11-15 nurses'…

Discusses revision of Supervisor Emphasis Rating Form (SERF) into ipsative instrument and suggests future research that could profitably be done with new instrument. Explains rationale for choosing ipsative format and presents findings of study conducted to establish instrument reliability. SERF-Revised is appended. (Author/NB)

Explores the effects of task characteristics and structural characteristics on aspects of information processing based on a survey of employees in the Australian telecommunications industry. Relevant research is reviewed; the analysis of results is explained; and implications for organizations are suggested. (Contains 42 references.) (LRW)