The Miller Motivation Scale is a 160-item computer scored scale. It was developed to measure quickly and easily and display the motivational profile of the client. It has eight subscales. Five subscales measure encouragement, self-fulfillment and social interest. They are called Creative, Innovative, Productive, Cooperative, and Power. Three…

This study sought to determine if preservice teachers hold different preferences for college-course learning activities at four levels of professional training. Subjects of the study were 549 students, ranging from freshmen through seniors in their undergraduate teacher preparation program. The Learning Preference Questionnaire asked the students…

This review of issues involved in the use of intelligence tests in Alberta (Canada) schools included consideration of: the nature of intelligence; the measurement of intelligence (instrument variables, examiner variables, and interpretation variables); student rights; implications of intelligence test results in decision making (labeling of…

The public views teacher evaluation as a major problem in the school system today. State legislatures, aware of the concern, want to mandate more effective evaluation. Common methods for evaluating teachers have been ineffective, such as measurement tests of teacher characteristics, student achievement test scores, and rating of teachers'…

Ten years of intensive research and development in foreign language teaching in Finland have resulted in a foreign language curriculum with a communicative orientation and textbooks to accompany it. Another outcome of this work was a realization of the complexity of language teaching, which led to models of the language teaching process. One such…

Discussions were held with administrative staff and evaluators from the New York City Public Schools in order to identify sources of data for evaluating special education programs. Data which are generally available include: (1) citywide reading test scores; (2) number of diplomas issued; (3) number of students decertified; (4) number of students…

Standards, passing scores, or cut scores have been seen as an element of criterion-referenced tests since their introduction. This paper discusses at least two issues surrounding the establishment of cut scores which appear to need clarification: (1) the theoretical definition of a cut score; and (2) decisions which must be made in selecting a…

While the concept of language awareness by language exploration and the use of performance objectives and testing seem mutually contradictory, they may not be. Where the processes of language learning are concerned, the two approaches may have important points of contact. In curriculum, the two complement rather than threaten each other. Both help…

The manual provides information on alternative testing techniques for students identified as handicapped. The first section discusses the legal basis for the use of alternative testing techniques, as well as student eligibility. Section 2 provides examples of test modifications in the following areas: (1) manner of presentation (flexible…

This study investigates the validity of second language vocabulary tests, and whether or not test scores accurately reflect the quality of language behavior in real-life situations. It attempts to prove the validity of vocabulary testing by comparing test scores to indices of vocabulary richness in second language production. The student subjects…

A summary is provided of the 1985-86 goals and accomplishments of Maricopa County Community College District's (MCCCD's) Student Assessment Pilot Project, which was conducted to develop a districtwide database of quantitative and qualitative information upon which decisions about policies, programs, and procedures related to assessment,…

Drawing from personal experiences in the development of an interactive testing program for a sociology course, this paper discusses issues related to the use of computer-based education in social science classes. First, the paper describes the steps taken by the Community College of Denver to introduce interested faculty to the possibilities of…

This study is an attempt at a cohesive characterization of the concept of essay reliability. As such, it takes as a basic premise that previous and current practices in reporting reliability estimates for essay tests have certain shortcomings. The study provides an analysis of these shortcomings--partly to encourage a fuller understanding of the…

Scores from the Stanford Achievement Tests administered to 50,000 students in Palm Beach County, Florida, were studied in order to determine whether the speeded nature of the reading comprehension subtest was related to inconsistencies in the score profiles. Specifically, the probable effect of random guessing was examined. Reading scores were…

This issue of the journal includes these papers on contrastive linguistics: "A Note on Semantic Representation of Lexical Items and on Lexical Gaps" (Maria Grzegorek); "Some Remarks on Case Grammars as Bases for Contrastive Studies" (Hans U. Boas); "Are Exclusively Attributive Adjectives 'Transpositional'?--Some Comments on the Nature of Lexical…