Despite much evidence that the Jenkins Activity Survey Type A (JAS Type A) scale is lacking in essential psychometric properties, it continues to be widely used for measuring coronary-prone behavior. Four psychometric properties of the scale were assessed. The scale failed to satisfy accepted reliability and validity criteria. (Author/JAZ)

Describes the development of a Values Conflict Resolution Assessment (VCRA) and reports on validation and reliability. Items were constructed from theoretical criteria in values clarification and decision making with "ethical-emotional" and "rational-behavioral" components. VCRA scores correlated negatively with…

In the present research, the psychometric models of Rasch and Guttman are used to illustrate contrasting yet complementary approaches to investigating reading skill hierarchies. The models share a general conclusion, but specific results from the Rasch model underscore its greater potential as a reading skills diagnostic technique. (Author/LMO)

Ruchalla, Schalt, and Vogel (1985) reported a negative correlation between the g-loadness of intelligence subtests and the extent to which the subtests correlated with reaction times. Possible methodological problems with Ruchalla et al. are described, and results of two other studies pertinent to the issue are discussed. (Author/LMO)

These analyses suggest that if a criterion-referenced test had a reliability (defined in terms of internal consistency) below 0.5, a simple a priori procedure would provide better estimates of students' universe scores than would individual observed scores. (Author/LMO)

The Rasch latent trait model was applied to investigate the relationship of performance on Raven items to expectations for individuals at different levels of the underlying scale. The use of Rasch model in instances of small samples and issues related to the interpretation of the model to Raven-type data are discussed. (DWH)

Compares concurrent validity of four sex-role instruments administered to a group of 281 urban university students. Reports that the instruments are sufficiently different in their measurement characteristics to warrant limiting generalizations about behavior based on these instruments to a particular instrument being used. (KH)

Surveyed 325 school personnel to examine the content validity of the Light's Retention Scale (LRS), assessing the use of selected retention criteria from the scale. Results indicated that several criteria were not typically considered in retention decisions and the remaining criteria varied widely in their use. (Author/JAC)

Evaluates the Medical Career Development Inventory, a measure of career maturity, with student-physicians (N=160). Results indicated that it is possible to construct a measure of vocational development for a population of adults encountering a common set of vocational development tasks. (LLL)

Describes the three-phase development of the Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI), an instrument designed primarily to measure life stress in college students. Standard psychometric information is presented, including reliability, validity, and some effects of response set. The PDI allows users to separately assess degree of depression, anxiety,…

Reviews underlying reliability, theoretical assumptions, and validity of several "fear of success" tests. Also examines the validity of the fear of success construct itself. Concludes that continued use of the label "fear of success" only reinforces belief in a scientifically unfounded concept of intrapsychic difference between…

Investigated the interrelationship of self-concept measures in a cross-validation study of 134 intermediate grade children. Multiple regression analysis of self-report and behavioral inference instruments supported the hypothesis that self-constructs are strongly rooted in the method by which they are assessed. (JAC)

This paper examines item response theory (IRT) scale transformations and IRT scale linking methods used in the Non-Equivalent Groups with Anchor Test (NEAT) design to equate two tests, X and Y. It proposes a unifying approach to the commonly used IRT linking methods: mean-mean, mean-var linking, concurrent calibration, Stocking and Lord and…

"Scale Up in Education, Volume 1: Ideas in Principle" examines the challenges of "scaling up" from a multidisciplinary perspective. It brings together contributions from disciplines that routinely take promising innovations to scale, including medicine, business, engineering, computing, and education. Together the contributors explore appropriate…

Because of the great promise of distance learning for delivering cost-effective instruction, there is great interest in determining whether or not it actually is effective, and--more interesting--determining what variables of design and implementation make it more or less effective. Unfortunately, much of the research has been based on simple…