The suggestion that multiple-choice items can be converted to true-false items without essentially changing what the item measures and with possible improvement in efficiency is investigated. Each of the 90 four-choice items in a natural science test was rewritten into a pair of true-false items, one true, one false. The resulting 180 items were…

The major part of this bulletin consists of two studies on the place of examinations in the school system. In a long paper (28 pages) on "New Techniques for Assessment of Pupils' Work," A.D.C. Peterson discusses: (1) efforts to improve reliability by the use of objective tests, improved marking procedures, and better standardization; (2)…

The present study was concerned with several currently unanswered questions, two of which are: what is an empirically determined ratio of multiple choice to equivalent true-false items which can be answered in a given amount of time?; and for achievement test items administered within a classroom situation, which of the two formats under…

The author names the seven deadly myths of education and explains why they are myths rather than facts. (Editor)

The author compares traditional test items with modified versions of the same test items for the purpose of making test questions more pertinent to the realities of daily life. (RK)

A scoring technique for true-false tests is presented. The technique, paired item scoring, involves combining two statements and having the student select one of the four resultants possible: true-true, false-true, true-false, and false-false. The combined item is treated as a multiple choice item. (Author/JKS)

Applied research suggests that learning-disabled students can benefit from training in test-taking skills to improve their performance on both standardized tests and content area tests. Recommendations for classroom applications enumerate which skills are most important for objective, short answer, and essay question tests and suggest appropriate…

Response changes of two classes of 30 dental hygiene students each were tabulated on multiple-choice questions on quizzes, midterms, and final examinations. Response changes were classified as wrong to right, right to wrong, or wrong to wrong. Significantly more responses were changed from wrong to right than from right to wrong. (Author/CT)

Examines generally high life satisfaction of 58 elderly reservation American Indians and its relationship to selected internal and external environmental factors. Suggests that internal environmental variables may be useful indicators of life satisfaction and that subjective measures of life satisfaction may be more predictive of mental health…

This "toolbox" offers suggestions about how and when to create objective tests. Such tests are sometimes a quick way to find out how students are doing, and sometimes they help students focus on what they are doing in class or help teachers define the content that is worth knowing. The following suggestions are offered for developing objective…

Due to the tremendous increase in the use of standardized tests, there have recently been significant developments in the law that have initiated a reevaluation of the social and legal implications of the use of such tests. (Author)

Discusses the position of examining boards and science teachers in England with respect to student guessing on objective type test items. The results of a questionnaire indicate that most science teachers advise their students to guess when they do not know the correct answer to an item. (JR)

One of the pivotal points in open admissions is how well the new students do with English. This article explores some of the successes and failures in this department. (Editor)