The Course Attitude Questionnaire (CAQ) has been administered 100,000 times in 3,500 classes at the Pennsylvania State University since 1964 with extensive use in modified form at other institutions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the reliability and internal validity of the CAQ and the temporal stability of its original factor…

This booklet was designed to provide inservice teachers with a self-contained manual for use in writing and/or improving classroom achievement tests. Following a preface and an introduction, the contents are divided into four sections: Practicality, preface and an introduction, the contents are divided into four sections: Practicality,…

This experiment was designed to assess the ability of item writers to construct truly parallel tests based on a "duplicate-construction experiment" in which Cronbach argues that if the universe description and sampling are ideally refined, the two independently constructed tests will be entirely equivalent, and that within the limits of item…

Based on a rationale provided by Helson's adaptation level theory it was predicted that students would perceive items arranged in a hard-medium-easy order as being easier than the same items arranged easy-medium-hard. The evidence presented in this study generally confirmed the preceding conjecture, but also found the Ss' perceptions did not…

Improved differential assignment of Navy recruits to schools and jobs would be possible if a wider range of aptitudes and interests could be measured without unduly lengthening the time used in testing. The purpose of the study was to make a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of a computerized item selection program, program sequin, for…

Bayes Theorem leads to three indexes of item effectiveness: 1) probability that an examinee knows the content given that the correct response was selected; 2) probability that an examinee does not know that content given that an incorrect response was selected; and 3) probability of making a correct decision about the examinee's knowledge given…

There are many potential sources of test bias besides that of the particular item content within the test. The other potential sources, designated here as program and utilization must also be encompassed in any thorough and effective program to increase the accuracy of assessment for members of ethnic minorities. As usual, the research findings…

This study demonstrates and discusses a new procedure for performing item analysis which utilizes multiple discriminant analysis to establish efficiently and effectively an index of item validity. Application of this statistical technique to data derived from an attitude survey of three groups of students enrolled in technical training courses…

The New York State Department of Civil Service investigated an empirical application of the Rasch model which appears useful in Civil Service testing. The model is a powerful tool for developing insights into what test items are measuring while permitting the investigator to spot defective items. It also reveals meaningful distinctions in the type…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the functions of the county vocational education director in California as perceived by selected groups of vocational education leaders. The functions were limited to the service responsibilities of the position, exclusive of its administrative responsibilities for the improvement of instruction. An…

The purpose of this study was to establish score equivalencies between the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and its Spanish language equivalent, the College Board Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA). For the first phase, two sets of items, one originally appearing in Spanish and the other in English, were chosen; and each set was…

It has been shown that Guttman weighting of test options results in marked increases in the internal consistency of a test. However, the effect of this type of weighting on the structure of the test is not known. Hence, the purpose of this study is to compare the factor structure of Guttman-weighted and rights-only-weighted tests and to relate the…

TO AID IN THE GUIDANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SPECIALIZING IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS, A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY ITEMS THAT WOULD REVEAL INTEREST PATTERNS OF SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED ADULTS IN THE FIVE AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATION FIELDS OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE, ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, AGRICULTURAL…

Describes development of a scale for measuring fourth graders' attitudes toward various ethnic or cultural groups. Reviews item analysis, scale discrimination, analysis for unidimensionality, and reliability. Presents the scale in an appendix. (AV)

Despite differences in origin and orientation, Piagetian theory and criterion referenced measurement share a general purpose--that of diagnosing human behavior. Beginning with a review of both perspectives, this paper illustrates their highly comparable natures and indicates how they could be used together to improve student evaluation. (Author/…