In Arkansas, in reaction to complaints about traditional methods of selection for promotion, the civil service commission has chosen to base promotions in the police department solely on scores on locally-developed objective tests. Items developed and loaded into a computerized test bank were selected from six areas of responsibility: (1) criminal…

To alleviate problems with course content, procedure, and philosophy identified by basic communication skills students and faculty, the University of Oklahoma developed a computer assisted Student Assessment Center (SAC) as a basic communication course adjunct. The SAC allows students from all sections of the course to take each of the four unit…

Computer technology can assist school psychologists in assessment, data management, and consultation, but there is little centralized information available about the most appropriate ways to use the computer. There is even debate about the amount of interest school psychologists have in acquiring computer skills. A nationwide survey of school…

During 1975-1979 this research into the potential of computerized adaptive testing to reduce errors in the measurement of human capabilities used Marine recruits for a live-testing validity comparison of computerized adaptive and conventional tests. The program purposes were to: (1) identify the most useful computer-based adaptive testing…

An adaptive testing strategy is described for achievement tests covering multiple content areas. The strategy combines adaptive item selection both within and between the subtests in the multiple-subtest battery. A real-data simulation was conducted to compare the results from adaptive testing and from conventional testing, in terms of test…

The research from a four-year project of implied orders tailored testing is summarized. The method of implied orders testing combines the principles of ordinal measurement with the concept of the Guttman scale as an ideal. The basic principle for dichotomous items is that either an item is missed and "dominates" a person or it is answered…

The purpose of this book is to document in detail the benefits which can be realized by computer-assisted test construction and to aid educators interested in taking advantage of computers in providing tests and exercises. An overview of all the benefits and problems of computer-assisted test construction is given. Then separate chapters are…

Reviews current research on listening comprehension and development of listening tests and considers four issues in detail: 1) the meaning of context in listening testing; 2) the concept of criterion referenced tests; 3) the notion of specific purposes in testing; and 4) the use of technology in listening tests. Issues for future research are…

Microcomputer applications for four areas of special education are discussed: (1) information management and decision making for administrators; (2) characteristics of quality second generation computer assisted instructional programs for teachers; (3) communications and early prostheses advances for educators of the severely and multiply…

Describes advantages and disadvantages of computer-assisted foreign language testing, including unique capabilities of the computer, types of tests possible, limitations, problems, and language skill testing. The Spanish Computer Adaptive Placement Examination, developed at Brigham Young University (Utah), is described. (CB)

Technical advances of the last 15 years in measurement theory and practice are described, notably criterion-referenced testing, item response theory, and computers and testing. Several remaining problems concerning the development and validation of credentialing examinations are also considered. (Author/LMO)

Provides guidelines for teachers writing machine-scored examinations. Explains the use of item analysis (discrimination index) to single test items that should be improved or eliminated. Discusses validity and reliability of classroom achievement tests in contrast to norm-referenced examinations. (JHZ)

The four sections of this special issue examine the relationship between counselors and the computer; discuss the delivery of career information and guidance by computer; describe other uses such as testing, student services, personal counseling and software applications; and discuss improving computer applications. (JAC)

The advantages that computer adaptive testing offers over linear tests have been well documented. The Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) design is more efficient than the Linear test design as fewer items are needed to estimate an examinee's proficiency to a desired level of precision. In the ideal situation, a CAT will result in examinees answering…

This research report describes changes made to the Inventory of Work-Relevant Values when it was revised for online use as a part of the Internet version of DISCOVER. Users will see the following differences between the online and CD-ROM versions of the inventory: 22 items rather than 61, simplified presentation, and the contribution of all items…