A review (HE 528 450) of large-scale studies of the psychometric characteristics of standardized-patient clinical examinations is commended for its clarity, thoroughness, and relevance. Issues of reliability, validity, scoring, reporting, and use of the tests are discussed further. (MSE)

The Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) was parameterized using the 2-parameter logistic item response (IRT) model. Two samples of 1,000 adults were used. Results suggest that the 2-parameter model fits the MPQ data, and researchers assessing normal-range personality processes have much to gain from exploiting IRT models. (TJH)

This study investigated measurement integrity of the Inventory of Parent Experiences, using parents of 66 intact families, half including children with handicaps. Results were unsupportive of the hypothesis that subscale and subsubscale scores have requisite measurement characteristics. Results with IPE total scores were more favorable and…

Information on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was obtained for psychometric properties, gender differences, and relation to depression for 291 psychiatric patients with a subsample of 251 who completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Two demonstrated BAI factors are discussed, as are male-female differences and correlation with depression. (SLD)

The relative roles of general cognitive ability, speed and efficiency of elemental cognitive processing, and oral reading fluency in the prediction of reading comprehension are examined using multiple regression. The construct validity of the curriculum-based approach to measurement of reading comprehension is supported. Reliability is assessed…

Responds to the initial article in this issue that proposes a set of 22 sequentially structured statements on the nature and origin of human abilities, gifts, and talents. Offers an alternative psychometric, quantitative perspective that sees gifts as broad, general analytic capabilities, and talents as specific, content-bound capabilities. (CR)

Fiction, journal, and creative writing can help highlight the positive qualities of diverse minority children. Educational psychology often diagnoses difference as disability. Analyzes traditional writing in social science as a type of literature, demonstrating how imaginative writing about students casts doubt on the validity of psychometrics and…

Tests the hypothesis that there is no monotonic relationship between increasing competence in different linguistic domains and growth in second-language proficiency. The article concludes with an introduction to some assessment models that can accommodate discontinuous growth patterns. These models can describe and model a student's qualitative…

This study assessed the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) with 68 Mexican American students (ages 6 to 16) referred for intellectually gifted assessments. Analysis found differences with three previously identified main factors (verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, and freedom from…

This article examines how psychometric models based on certain assumptions have come to be used counterproductively by many practitioners in ways that limit the kinds of conclusions that can be made. The general problem of the context's influence on performance is discussed, and some implications are drawn. (SLD)

Evaluated two alternate forms of self-report measurements of Africentrism defined as the degree to which a person adheres to the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) in African and AfricanAmerican culture. Four reliability and validity studies reveal a 15-item version that can be used for future testing and for properly directing use of African-centered…

The "Behavior Problems Inventory" (BPI) is a behavior rating instrument for self-injurious, stereotypic, and aggressive/destructive behavior in mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Evaluation with 432 residents in a developmental center found the BPI to be a reliable (retest reliability, internal consistency, and…

Reviews career-related issues for employees with diverse characteristics and job status. Evaluates 44 psychometrically sound career-assessment instruments for their usefulness in dealing with issues. (SK)

Two studies compared multidimensional self-concept measures in preadolescents. Findings indicated that the Self-Description Questionnaire and Self-Perception Profile for Children were highly correlated and comparable in reliability, stability, subscale interrelations, and associations with others' evaluations. Correspondence among various…

Studied the psychometric properties of the Six-Factor Self-Concept Scale (J. Stake, 1994) in a sample of 185 racial/ethnic minority college women. Results support the reliability and construct validity of the subscale scores of the instrument and the potential usefulness of the scale for studying ethnic and cultural differences. (SLD)