The Classroom Creativity Observation Schedule (CCOS) is designed to gather objective information about student and teacher behaviors which relate to students' creative growth. The revised schedule, based on the 1966 version, is composed of eight items designed to assess classroom behavior on the dimensions of: motivational climate; student-student…

This paper presents a new method for estimating a given latent trait variable by the least-squares approach. The beta weights are obtained recursively with the help of Fourier series and expressed as functions of item parameters of response curves. The values of the latent trait variable estimated by this method and by maximum likelihood method…

Basically, test directors have four systemwide and building level responsibilities: (1) planning, administration and evaluation of standardized testing programs; (2) application of measurement and evaluation to school problems; (3) classroom testing and evaluation; and (4) external testing programs. In a series of brief memos, measurement and…

The College Outcome Measures Project/American College Testing Program (COMP/ACT) Writing Assessment is described, and issues of validity and reliability in the assessment of writing samples using qualitative rating scales are explored. COMP/ACT is composed of three role-playing tasks in the social sciences, natural sciences, and arts, which are…

The manual was designed to aid members of admissions committees in the use of the new Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for the selection of applicants, and to familiarize health professions advisors and other groups of the basic characteristics of the test and its selection and counseling functions. The first chapter includes a rationale for…

Problems in constructing criterion referenced tests related to inadequate technical criteria, and guidelines for their solution are discussed. The need to select a well-defined domain of behaviors is emphasized as the key to test construction and to understanding students' test performance. Considerations must also be given to the most effective…

Techniques for developing and using informal reading inventories are listed. Concepts and purposes of the inventory are suggested, and reading levels are defined. Suggestions are offered for individual and group inventories, material preparation and analysis, question formation and selection, methods of scoring and recording, and methods of…

Comprehensive Achievement Monitoring (CAM), developed at Stanford University in 1967, was introduced into a pre-algebra course in Moanalua High School in Hawaii to help teachers by providing information on the progress of individual students and of the total class. The computer package is used to correct each student's answer sheet and to prepare…

A conventional vocabulary test and two forms of a stradaptive vocabulary test were administered by a time-shared computer system to undergraduate college students. The two stradaptive tests differed in that one counted question mark responses (i.e., omitted items) as incorrect and the other ignored items responded to with question marks.…

This study empirically investigated the validity and utility of the stratified adaptive computerized testing model (stradaptive]developed by Weiss (1973). The model presents a tailored testing strategy based on Binet IQ measurement theory and Lord's (1972) modern test theory. Nationally normed School and College Ability Test Verbal analogy items…

A number of strategies are described for adapting ability test items to individual differences in ability levels of testees. Each strategy consists of a different set of rules for selecting the sequence of test items to be administered to a given testee. Advantages and disadvantages of each strategy are discussed, and research issues unique to the…

Techniques for developing and using informal reading inventories are listed. Concepts and purposes of the inventory are suggested, and reading levels are defined. Suggestions are offered for individual and group inventories, material preparation and analysis, question formation and selection, methods of scoring and recording, and methods of…

This report summarizes research performed on the Test of Diagnostic Skills, used to evaluate the clinical diagnostic skills of medical students. Forms of the test were administered to groups at different levels of medical experience to ascertain the effect of training on performance. A cross-sectional study was conducted with approximately 90…

Confidence testing has been used in varying forms over the past 40 years as a method for increasing the amount of information available from objective test items. This paper traces the development of the procedure from Hevner's beginning method up to the various methods in use today and describes both the testing procedures and scoring methods…

Arguments which suggest that improved prediction of multiple criteria can be achieved employing pattern scoring of responses, as opposed to conventional methods, are examined. Models for improving prediction of single and multiple criteria were examined. The findings are: (1) simple linear combinations of predictor variables perform as well…