The purpose of this paper is to formulate optimal sequential rules for mastery tests. The framework for this approach is derived from empirical Bayesian decision theory. Both a threshold and linear loss structure are considered. The binomial probability distribution is adopted as the psychometric model involved. Conditions sufficient for…

A test preparation program was implemented at Southern Connecticut State University to assist students in passing the Praxis II content examination in physical education. The study program had not been evaluated for effectiveness. A review of the literature provided background information on teacher certification, test-taking skills, test…

This brief makes the case for thoughtful district- or school-driven assessment systems that complement and go beyond what statewide testing systems are able to accomplish. It describes important attributes of model local assessment programs and presents the necessary steps for building a local assessment program that will elicit information that…

A team of researchers at the University of South Florida is developing a multimedia program to identify and help students with statistics anxiety. This program, EncStat, includes tests that provide information about a student's level of anxiety and negative attitudes toward statistics, computer anxiety, and study skills, and it contains…

This investigation reports the development of a measure of adolescent connectedness and estimates of its psychometric properties. A measure was developed to assess the ecological and developmental dimensions of adolescent connectedness, defined as adolescents' caring for and involvement in specific relationships and contexts within their social…

This report first presents National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1998 reading assessment results that are recalculated to include results from special needs students who were tested with accommodations. It also examines the impact on NAEP results of the varying exclusion rates of special needs students by participating states and…

A computerized adaptive test (CAT) administration usually requires a large supply of items with accurately estimated psychometric properties, such as item response theory (IRT) parameter estimates, to ensure the precision of examinee ability estimation. However, an estimated IRT model of a given item in any given pool does not always correctly…

Presents the history of psychometrics in terms of the various investigators who worked in this area; the fields of computer utilization, testing, scaling, factor analysis, and learning theory are examined. (JM)

A look at how behavioral objectives are related to learning curves. Definitions and major uses are noted. Havighurst's development tasks are presented as a model for providing better retention of learning. Also includes a brief look at the infant science'' of Psychometrics. (Author)

Trend exhibited by the subjects of the present study was for men to show an earlier and more rapid decline than women, possibly as a reflection of their shorter life span. (Authors)

Verbal intelligence of Athenians 18 years and older was studied through the use of the Information, Comprehension, and Similarities subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Three sub-groups of subjects were used according to sex, age, and education. (CB)

Describes the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), a newly developed questionnaire designed to evaluate families according to the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. Discusses the procedures used to develop the FAD and presents scale means and scale reliabilities from a sample of 503 individuals. (Author/JAC)

Past findings were reviewed with psychometric results and clinical observations of seven children with unusually precocious word-recognition skills and otherwise multiple significant developmental deviations. Implications concerning the syndrome of hyperlexia and how the behavior pattern may disrupt the acquisition of appropriate modalities of…

Relationships between students' affective and cognitive outcomes and their perceptions of classroom psychosocial environment, as measured by the Individualized Classroom Environment Questionnaire and the Classroom Environment Scale, were investigated for a sample of 1,083 junior high school students in 116 classrooms. Sizable environment-outcome…