This handbook, in two parts, constitutes a manual prepared by the American Federation of Teachers, for improving teachers' use of standardized tests. Part I outlines basic concepts and issues surrounding standardized testing for teachers, parents and school administrators. The terms norm-referenced tests, criterion referenced tests, minimum…

This paper summarizes some of the issues involved in educational testing. First, it describes four of the fundamental characteristics of tests: whether they are measures of aptitude or achievement, whether they require students to produce or just recognize the best answer, whether they are interpreted in relationship to the scores of other…

The effects of concern about price of college and student aptitude for college upon the tendencies of parents and students to change their preference for private colleges to public colleges at the application stage of the college selection process were examined through two surveys conducted by Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. In one…

The current downward enrollment trend in postsecondary institutions is assessed in terms of its meaning for institutions, students, and taxpayers. An agenda is proposed for the review and an estimate is provided of the number of students who are qualified for postsecondary education but who fail to receive it because they lack the funds. It is…

Two focuses of a discussion of literacy and vocational competence should be the need for a more profound understanding of literacy and the relevance of that understanding for studying reading in vocational settings. A developmental model of the acquisition of literacy considers reading a second signaling system for speech. People who become…

The Mann-Suiter Developmental Screening Tests were administered individually to 79 German and American first grade students in their native languages. The subtests, which examined minimum skills necessary for school success, were used to develop a profile of each child's strengths and weaknesses in visual, auditory, and language areas. Children…

THE PROGRAM WAS DEVISED TO DEMONSTRATE A WORKABLE PLAN FOR EXTENDED USE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS, AND TO EMPHASIZE THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN CREATING A WHOLESOME ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN. GOALS INCLUDED--(1) A SCHOOL DAY THAT PROVIDES FOR EDUCATIONAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, (2) EXTENSION OF THE SCHOOL DAY INTO A SPECIAL…

Maintaining that the environment in general and schools in particular largely influence whether an individual's talents will be identified/encouraged or ignored/discouraged, the document focuses on ways to identify and stimulate talents in socially underprivileged individuals. The study was based on two approaches. The first approach, systems…

The basis for the assessment process in this project is that structured situations within curriculum areas will yield vocational information (skill and behavioral) that has a direct and indirect relationship to occupational areas in the world of work. Thus, with the assistance of school assessment teams, seven situations were identified and…

To improve vocational rehabilitation programs for schizophrenic persons, a project sought to design an effective assessment strategy. Inactive records of schizophrenic clients at New Jersey sheltered workshops were examined to determine validity and reliability of assessment instruments being used. General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) profiles of…

This publication, designed for educators, researchers, and university students, includes articles of theory, opinions, research and practical application pertaining to all levels of educational practice. The first two articles define the place of science in the curriculum, first as a basic study and then as a holistic study. The next three…

The conference panels were organized around three topics: (1) influences of cultural background on test performance; (2) uses and limitations of factor analysis in psychological research; and (3) information which should be provided by test publishers and testing agencies on the validity and use of their tests. Panelists for the first session…

Since their beginning, intelligence tests have favored the higher social classes. Despite federal mandates to the contrary, bias in assessment is likely to remain a problem. Claims of test bias can be categorized as popular (naive); clinical (intuitive); statistical (predictive); and psychometric (construct and content). A literature review has…

Published in Britain for use by counselors and placement officials, the book offers a systematic attack on occupational placement problems of the prelingually deaf. The system is based on a vocational guidance profile, which is developed from intelligence and achievement test scores. The vocational guidance profile is explained, and occupational…

This is a discussion on the role that cognitive and affective variables play in second language learning. The variables under consideration are: (1) intelligence; (2) language aptitude; (3) motivation; and (4) anxiety. Specifically, this report focuses on the importace of attitudinal and motivational factors in achievement. Research is reviewed…