In an attempt to restore the symmetry and balance between the study of person and item variation, this paper presents a novel methodology construct specification equations, which allows one to ascertain from the lawful behavior of items what an instrument is measuring. (Author/PN)

Estimation techniques for generating the covariance matrix for two new tests and an existing test without the necessity of any examinee having to take two complete tests is presented. An application of these techniques to linear, observed-score, test equating is presented. (Author/JKS)

Binomial models for domain-referenced testing are compared, emphasizing the assumptions underlying the beta-binomial model. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed. A proposed item sampling model is presented which takes the effect of guessing into account. (Author/CM)

To study sex differences in test performance, the performance of males and females on 16 General Certificate of Education exams was analyzed in England. Results show that males perform better on objective tests than females. (Author/JJD)

Reanalyzes data provided by Swanson (1976) and Straton and Catts (1980) to test claims of superiority for the three-alternative multiple-choice item test and to present possible oversights made by these researchers. Results suggest it is doubtful that three-alternative test items are better than four-alternative items. (PAS)

This review of issues about correcting for attenuation concludes that the basic difficulty lies in being able to identify and equate sources of variance in estimates of validity and reliability. Recommendations are proposed for cautious use of correction for attenuation. (Author/CM)

Critiques the Jackson Vocational Interest Survey. Found the randomized technique of matching statements into forced-choice item pairs is a major flaw in the instrument. Explores conceptual issues arising when item clustering is used with forced-choice statement matching. Introduces contingency validity in item construction. (R)

Errors in self-reports of three academic performance measures are analyzed. Empirical errors are shown to depart radically from both no-error and random-error assumptions. Self-reports by females depart farther from the no-error and random-error models for all three performance measures. (Author/BW)

Cliff's Index "c" derived from an item dominance matrix is utilized in a clustering approach, termed extracting Reliable Guttman Orders (ERGO), to isolate Guttman-type item hierarchies. A comparison of factor analysis to the ERGO is made on social distance data involving multiple ethnic groups. (Author/BW)

The paper considers the problem of selecting the t best of k normal populations and simultaneously determining whether the selected populations have a mean larger than a known standard. Illustrations are given for selecting the t best of k examinees when the binomial error model applies. (Author)

An alternative to the uniform probability distribution model for ordinal data is considered. Implications for statistics and for test theory are discussed. (JKS)

Examines relationships among tests for numerosity, measurement, and computational estimation, and recognizes tests for numerical facility and quantitative reasoning using principal components analysis. Identifies two components. The first component aligned computational estimation with numerical facility and general quantitative reasoning while…

Summarizes the current state of the art in test construction and contrasts it with previous conceptual models, some of which are wrong or misleading. New methodologies for item selection and review are presented, with current thinking on the specification of technical characteristics of tests. (Author/SLD)

"Test Scoring" provides insight into psychometric procedures as used by a professional testing company or in large-scale projects. The book contains an overview of standard test theory, a discussion of factor analytic theory, and an exploration of special applications and problems. (SLD)

Discusses three research/testing interfaces in second-language (L2) testing: the covariance structure analysis of ex post facto correlational data, the qualitative investigation of test-taking processes, and the development of L2 assessment instruments based on developmental sequences in L2 acquisition. (61 references) (GLR)