The purpose of this study is to determine the latent structure of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II; Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 2000) at three different age levels, using the standardization sample. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analyses are performed to test four competing hypothetical models for fit and…

In most large-scale assessments of student achievement, several broad content domains are tested. Because more items are needed to cover the content domains than can be presented in the limited testing time to each individual student, multiple test forms or booklets are utilized to distribute the items to the students. The construction of an…

A study was conducted to determine the function of a firm within the context of public relations practice. The assessment of James E. Grunig's "Indices for Models of Public Relations" (an instrument for measuring the type of public relations practiced by an organization) was of primary concern. This instrument places public relations…

A study to determine whether five Pittsburgh hospitals have communication training programs and whether the programs have been or are currently being evaluated examined the following research questions: (1) whether they have ever used a communication training program (i.e., writing, interpersonal communication, public speaking, group leadership);…

This paper examines multiple measures of performance in school accountability systems from two perspectives: laterally (different indicators of different domains) and vertically (indicators that are at different levels of depth of the same domain). From these perspectives, organizational responsibility and instructional sensitivity are examined.…

The evaluation methodology delineated in this paper is a work in progress. The purpose is to develop a method for evaluating social studies curriculum materials that encompasses the materials' comprehensibility and the perspective offered. The paper draws from past evaluations that focused on either comprehensibility or perspective but have not…

This evaluation plan, which is updated annually, provides a synthesis of the various evaluation activities of Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL). During 1999, the fourth year of the Laboratory's contract period with the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, special studies and integrated studies were designed to…

The issue of treatment fidelity has been a concern in the field of evaluation research. Nearly three decades ago, Cook and Campbell (1975) outlined four types of validity that may influence treatment outcomes. Defining these validity measures has since prompted researchers to closely examine potential threats within the context of program…

Science student assessors evaluated each other's work and ranked posters of major ecosystem processes in the same order as staff assessors. Students ranking highly in poster presentation tended to do poorly in their essay work and vice versa. This would suggest that diversity of assessment strategies is needed. (AIM)

A survey of seven institutions revealed that the institution's student assessment purposes, its administrative support patterns, and its faculty instructional impacts are significant predictors of faculty satisfaction with their institution's approach to and support for student assessment. External influences on, faculty uses, and perceived…

Analyzed scores on student questionnaires of teaching performance over 3 or 4 years and found significant changes in scores in only 4 of 25 departments; the changes were all falls in scores. Concluded that questionnaires administered in this manner do not affect teaching quality. (EV)

Kirkpatrick's highly popular model of training evaluation criteria proposed four ascending, causally related, and positively intercorrelated levels: reactions, learning, behavior, and results. This article examines the validity of the three problematic assumptions of the model, the frequency of each level in published evaluation studies,…

This study hypothesized band performance as a three-level hierarchical judgment with a basic level defined by specific terms, an intermediate level comprising a small number of interrelated factors, and a top level characterized by one overarching higher order. Results clearly confirmed three primary factors but suggested further study. (MJP)

Reports on a study of the peer review process in faculty publishing, in which 1,214 review comments by 216 reviewers were analyzed to determine the nature of the reviews and the reviewers. Categorizes reviews in terms of tone, direction, and focus. Delineates 4 reviewer profiles: critic, conciliator, competitor, and procrastinator. (DMM)

Time-series design is useful for monitoring student learning and assessing teaching effectiveness. Reports that time-series data reveal a sharp drift of the learning curve in the treatment stage and show high correlations with established tests and discrimination between high and low achievers. Contains 32 references. (Author/WRM)