The testing procedures used in an introductory psychology class at Utah State University are described. Students who had either taken the course earlier or were concurrently enrolled in the class served as testing managers. Rooms were capable of supporting up to 250 students during class time for written exams. "Permits" to take a test have…

The city-wide standardized testing program of Madison Public Schools was reviewed by a committee of a cross-section of school system educators as part of a total effort to design a testing program more sensitive to the needs of the system. As a result, standardized testing was reduced to reading (grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8) and mathematics (grade…

The impact of aptitude differences on learning performance is assessed. As a result of the assessment, instructional strategies are being developed to make efficient training programs for men of differing aptitude levels. Observations were that the high level group did better when left without a structured training program. The middle range was…

Michigan's superintendent of public instruction is convinced that a state testing program can provide the kind of information educators need to improve instructional planning. (Author)

Describes the main features of computer-managed classes in psychology, statistics, and anthropology and the methodology that makes the computer-management possible. (Author/IRT)

A proficiency testing program for potential physical education majors is described. (MM)

The basic truth in testing is that it is diagnostic rather that definitive. Testing is but one of the many means for the determination of present conditions. (Author)

Presents survey results of 24 examination boards concerning their positions on the use of electronic calculators in exams. (CP)

The authors report on the discovery of a nineteenth century document that illustrates an early example of educational measurement, namely the "Scale-Book" developed by George Fisher (1862). The text of Fisher's document is appended. (TJH)

The 1985 edition of the American Psychological Association's "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing" has greatly expanded its coverage of the testing of handicapped students. Recent surveys of practitioners' knowledge of basic testing and measurement concepts suggest the need for extensive in-service training if these…

Describes a program in a Maryland high school where teachers set and evaluate their instructional goals at the beginning and end of the school year. (MD)

In an attempt to raise district scores, the Washington, D.C., public schools are now beginning a program to train students to take standardized tests. (IRT)

This paper considers several philosophies as they relate to student assessment. Realists believe that one can know the real world as it truly is. As a philosophy of testing and measurement, realism is characterized by behaviorally stated objectives, measurement-driven instruction, and report cards, along with the use of programmed materials.…

This digest discusses sources of error in testing, several approaches to estimating reliability, and several ways to increase test reliability. Reliability has been defined in different ways by different authors, but the best way to look at reliability may be the extent to which measurements resulting from a test are characteristics of those being…

Tests and assessments are generally administered to gather data to aid in decision making, with at an individual student level or at an aggregated level. In order to incorporate assessment data in informed decision making, test users need to understand the test results. This chapter highlights the types of test scores and test score…