A State Curiosity Scale (SCS) was developed to be a self-reporting measure of a student's level of specific epistemic curiosity aroused by learning materials. The state of epistemic curiosity was conceptualized as a transitory emotional or motivational condition of the student, the arousal level of which was expected to vary across time, both with…

Changes and constancies in the importance of 57 situations and conditions in four stages of Army life are presented and interpreted following Maslow's analysis of the functioning of human needs. Ratings of importance were transformed to z-scores and plotted. Three patterns were observed. It is suggested that: (1) items remain stable because other…

In the first part of this paper, the purposes of behavioral objectives are outlined; research is then summarized, including the influence of knowledge of the behavioral objectives on a learner's performance, teacher recognition of behavioral objectives, and student attitudes to behavioral objectives. The second part presents a summary of methods…

Hoyt's analysis of variance procedure for estimating reliability assumes that the residual mean square estimates error variability. If, however, an individual's true score varies across items, it is argued that residual mean square estimates two components--error and interaction--and hence Winer's modification of Hoyt's formula, understimates the…

Addresses the problem of the equivalence of linguistically translated items that form measurement scales used to assess psychological traits or constructs in source and target cultures and languages. Outlines assessment procedures that are standardized but that also reflect cultural-specific concepts and values. (PS)

Addresses the theoretically important question of whether g is merely an artifact of the method of constructing psychometric tests and the mathematical operations of factor analysis or whether it has an authentic claim to represent some natural phenomenon that exists independently of psychometrics and factor analysis. (Author/ABB)

Psychometric issues arising from the use of minimum competency tests in local option states were examined in seven school districts. The effect of variability in reliability and difficulty level of subtests on the accuracy of decisions based on such tests is questioned, particularly as they affect mildly handicapped and marginal students.…

The centrality of intellectual abilities is discussed in terms of two evaluative criteria, given the combined acronym GENECES: (1) the "generality" of the ability in performances on tasks requiring adaptation to, selection of, and shaping of real-world environments; and (2) the "necessity" of these abilities in performing tasks. (Author/LMO)

A computerized system was developed for generating narrative interpretations of scores from a battery of personnel screening tests. Showed the computerized reports to be more accurate and thorough, as readable, and somewhat less coherent than interpretations generated by the typical human expert. (Author/ABB)

It is shown that for equal parameters explicit formulas exist, facilitating the application of the Newton-Raphson procedure to estimate the parameters in the Rasch model and related models according to the conditional maximum likelihood principle. (Author/LMO)

The author examines and rebuts arguments advanced by Michael Matthews, a Marxist critic of intelligence testing and IQ research. Arthur Jensen's views on the nature, heritability, and social importance of IQ are defended. (BS)

Compared the psychometric properties of subordinate ratings of managerial performance (N=365) to those of supervisor (N=80) and self ratings (N=80). Results indicated that subordinate ratings are more similar to supervisor ratings than to self ratings in terms of convergent validity and leniency effect. (LLL)

Evaluated discriminant validity in frequently used measures of irrational beliefs relative to measures of trait anxiety in college students (N=142). Results showed discriminant validity in the Rational Behavior Inventory but not in the Irrational Beliefs Test and correlated cognitive rather than somatic aspects of trait anxiety with both measures.…

Presents revisions and item analyses of the Positive Feelings Questionnaire (PFQ) from a contrasted group of l04 clinic and community couples. Results found the PFQ to be internally consistent, relatively stable over time, correlated with measures of marital interaction, and sensitive to changes during marital therapy. (LLL)

In an earlier article, Hunt envisions the automation of intelligence testing, but he appears to be overly optimistic. He neglects to mention conceptual and practical difficulties at the interface of measurement and theory that place psychometry not in the dawn of microcomputerization, but rather more nearly in its primordium. (Author)