Gives an overview of the development and testing of an interview instrument used by teachers of English as a second language to assess the oral proficiency of nonnative speakers. (The actual instrument is reprinted in the article that follows this one). (SK)

Outlines stages followed in initial development of an attitude/motivation test battery to study individual differences associated with achievement in French and presents reliability and validity data. Focuses attention on procedures for test construction and evaluation of test adequacy. (Author/BK)

Problem-child families and normal families were classified using the dyadic parent-child interaction coding system (DPICS). The DPICS was found to be a reliable, clinically practical research instrument that correctly classified 94 percent of the families and predicted 64 percent of the variance in parent report of home behavior problems. (Author)

Since competency-based instruction is based on the testing process, this study suggests that careful attention to the construction of tests can produce a reliable, valid measure. The next steps to be taken include developing larger banks of test items, increasingly accurate tests, and instruction to meet specified objectives of the curriculum.…

Samples of children (N=1,267) in rural Australian primary schools completed the "Where Are You Game" for the assessment of self-regard. Results indicated acceptable estimated test reliability and considerable convergent validity. Comparatively, self-regard was higher in younger children, boys, and higher academic achievers. (Author/SJL)

Three conditions for administering creativity tests by Torrance and by Wallach and Kogan were compared: (1) untimed, gamelike; (2) conventional testlike; and (3) administration of measures under testlike conditions on two adjacent days, using the second testing as the predictor. The conventional testlike condition seems optimal. (Author/CP)

Problems in grading and evaluating English compositions are discussed. Factors include methods of marking, reliability, prediction, characteristics of markers, and handwriting. The effect of time passage on evaluation criteria was determined by comparing essays written in 1922 with new ones written on the same topic (f=fiche number). (MH)

Interpreting interest inventories correctly encourages client understanding and decision-making skills. Inadequate time and information overload can be major obstacles. Weinrach's Discrepancy Identification can minimize these problems in interpreting the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey. Includes a response by Diamond on scoring. (JAC)

A review of the technical data available on the 1972 norms edition of the Stanford-Binet demonstrates how inadequate these data are. The Stanford-Binet should not continue to be used in important decision making processes unless this weakness is corrected. (Author)

This investigation sought to establish how documentation of relevant unpaid work experience can be reliably rated by administrators, and how well these ratings correlate with other assessments of administrative skills. A portfolio technique was developed and validated as a documentation device. (SK)

To validate the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute examinations to be used to select vocational instructors in Georgia, a random sample of teachers by occupation and race was tested. Test results were compared to national norms; local norms and a method for determining cut-off scores were developed. (SK)

Light's retention scale does not meet standards for a psychometric device for schools. Possibly because of low reliability, the total score was not found to have concurrent validity. The scale needs revision in item content to be accepted by teachers. (Author)

Data on 21 performance tests, entry level and promotional, motor and verbal, were evaluated for 263 applicants for city government jobs over a 17-month period. In comparison to paper and pencil tests, performance tests were more cost-effective, more face valid, and more acceptable to applicants in this situation. (Author/KC)

Levitan (Chairman of the National Commission on Employment and Unemployment Statistics) and Belous question the usefulness and accuracy of current methods of compiling unemployment statistics. Better measurements of labor market performance are crucial because of the ways such data are used to allocate funds and to form policies for combatting…

A comparison of reading subtests of the Wide Range Achievement Test, Peabody Individual Achievement Test, and Slosson Oral Reading Test showed a high correlation between the WRAT and PIAT. Suggests the WRAT and PIAT measure the same dimension of reading achievement, possibly verbal fluency. (Author/JAC)