This paper provides a list of 10 salient features of the standard error of measurement, contrasting it to the reliability coefficient. It is concluded that the standard error of measurement should be regarded as a primary characteristic of a mental test. (Author/DWH)

Misreadings of pencil answer marks on test answer sheets by optical scanners cause scoring errors. Twenty-six different pencils were tested for readability differences when optically scanned. Complete light and dark marks scanned perfectly for 18 pencils. Totals for all six mark types ranged from 947 to 1726 out of 1800. (BS)

A computer simulation study was conducted to investigate the amount of uncertainty added to National Assessment of Educational Progress estimates by equating error under three different equating methods and while varying a number of factors that might affect accuracy of equating. Data from past NAEP administrations were used to guide the…

This collection consists of six papers, each dealing with some aspects of reliability and performance testing. Each paper has an abstract, and each contains its own references. Papers include: (1) "Using Reliabilities To Make Decisions" (Deborah J. Harris); (2) "Conditional Standard Errors, Reliability, and Decision Consistency…

Stepwise methods are frequently employed in educational and psychological research, both to select useful subsets of variables and to evaluate the order of importance of variables. Three problems with stepwise applications are explored in some detail. First, computer packages use incorrect degrees of freedom in their stepwise computations,…

This paper discusses the impact of sampling error on the construction of confidence intervals around effect sizes. Sampling error affects the location and precision of confidence intervals. Meta-analytic resampling demonstrates that confidence intervals can haphazardly bounce around the true population parameter. Special software with graphical…

A procedure was developed to analyze data with missing observations by extracting data from a sparsely filled data matrix into analyzable smaller subsets of data. This subdividing method, based on the conceptual framework of meta-analysis, was accomplished by creating data sets that exhibit structural designs and then pooling variance components…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative appropriateness of several procedures for estimating reliability and standard errors of measurement of complex reading comprehension tests. Seven generalizability theory models were conceptualized by incorporating one or several factors of items, passages, themes, contents, and types of…

An evaluation of the variation of item estimates was conducted for the multidimensional extension of the logistic item response theory (MIRT) model. The empirically determined standard errors (SEs) of marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE)/Bayesian item estimates from 40 items from the ACT Assessment (Form 24b, 1985) were obtained when the…

This paper contains information concerning the following: 1. An overview of multivariate analysis of variance, and discriminant (DA) and canonical (CA) analyses. 2. An introduction to specification and measurement errors, and collinearity. 3. The sparsity of information concerning specification and measurement errors and collinearity as they…

Perspective on article by P. Isaac published in the Psychological Bulletin, 1970, 74, 213-18. (CB)

Investigated empirically through post mortem item-examinee samplings were the relative merits of two alternative procedures for allocating items to subtests in multiple matrix sampling and the feasibility of using the jackknife in approximating standard errors of estimate. (Editor)

Approximations were compared with exact statistics obtained on 85 different classroom tests constructed and administered by professors in a variety of fields; means and standard deviation of the resulting differences supported the use of approximations in practical situations. (Author)

A derivation of a formula for the stability coefficient is presented and discussed in terms of test reliability over time. (PR)

The mathematics required to calculate the asymptotic standard errors of the parameters of three commonly used logistic item response models is described and used to generate values for common situations. Difficulties in using maximum likelihood estimation with the three parameter model are discussed. (Author/JKS)