A new procedure, CATSIB, for assessing differential item functioning (DIF) on computerized adaptive tests (CATs) is proposed. CATSIB, a modified SIBTEST procedure, matches test takers on estimated ability and controls for impact-induced Type 1 error inflation by employing a CAT version of the IBTEST "regression correction." The…

A quantitative method, meta-analysis, is used to integrate research findings from a representative group of 38 coaching studies. Because different studies reported results on different scales, effect size was used to transform all results to a common metric. This meta-analysis showed that there are two distinct literatures on the effectiveness of…

Reports the procedure followed by members of the Testing and Evaluation Section, Schools Council Modern Languages Project, York, in producing test batteries to accompany the Nuffield/Schools Council language courses, the French course "En Avant" in particular. (RM)

The Program Standards Evaluation System was developed in response to evaluation requirements in the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. The system includes procedures for using standards data to monitor and evaluate vocational rehabilitation (VR) service outcomes and outputs as well as standards on key procedural issues. The system includes procedures for…

The impact of male and female college students' grades, achievement, and attitudes of the respective "correction" procedures used in Bloom- and Keller-type mastery learning strategies was investigated. Findings indicate periodic corrections, using Bloom's strategy, may improve students' ability to apply course material. (Author/BJG)

Computer assisted test construction (CATC) is a new testing technique that seems to provide ease and flexibility for faculty members and students. The purpose of this paper was to verify that student test scores are not adversely affected by implementation of CATC. Two sections of a basic course in cataloging were tested for one semester. One…

This collection of workshop materials demonstrates how to develop learning modules through examples, illustrations, explanations, case studies, comparisons diagnosis, and prognosis. For the projected workshop, a module is defined as a modularized learning activity package composed of objectives, pretest, learning environments, and posttest. The…

A study was conducted to determine: (1) the extent to which changes of self-report scores (between pretest and post-test) on a measure of defensiveness were related to changes of self-report scores (between pretest and post-test) on a measure of self-concept; and (2) if changes of self-report scores on a measure of defensiveness as covariates…

Addresses the four questions raised by Yelon about use of pretests with instruction--should I pretest; on what should I pretest; how should I pretest; how should I adjust to results--and answers them from the perspective of instructional designers conducting formative evaluations to improve quality of instruction under development. (MBR)

Growth is estimated most accurately by procedures involving the pretest-posttest difference, and for practical purposes all estimates involving this difference have approximately equal accuracy. In particular, the simple difference between pretest and posttest scores seems about as accurate as any other estimate, easier to compute, and meaningful…

Research discussed in this paper was conducted as part of an ongoing large-scale simulation study to evaluate methods of calibrating pretest items for computerized adaptive testing (CAT) pools. The simulation was designed to mimic the operational CAT Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) testing program, in which a single pretest item…

Evaluated effects of pretesting in conjunction with a group social skills training program. A Solomon four-groups design was used to evaluate the effects of pretesting, the skills training program, and their interaction. Strong evidence of pretesting effects was found for measures associated with a behavioral forced interaction task. (Author)

Describing results of a field-based program for an entry level course in teacher education, this article indicates six of seven teacher education classes made gains (measured via pre- and post-testing with the Minnesota Teacher Attitude Inventory) at the .001 level and one class made gains at the .05 level. (JC)

Compares two methods of pretesting--the plus-minus method and the think-aloud method--with respect to their suitability for evaluating sites on the World Wide Web. Suggests that the plus-minus method is a more appropriate method for testing Web sites than the think-aloud method, but makes three qualifications to this conclusion. (SG)