This qualitative study follows two previous papers that presented quantitative data about methods of peer assessment within a group project and indicated that holistic peer assessment supports the purposes of summative group assessment better than category-based peer assessment. This study's findings support that notion. Student attitudes were…

Discusses the causes of variability of training impact and problems with previous models for evaluation of training. Presents the Success Case Evaluation approach as a way to measure the impact of training and build learning capability to increase the business value of training by focusing on a small number of trainees. (Author/LRW)

Examines practices that encourage false negatives and false positives on licensing and certification tests designed to protect the public. Recommends increasing the amount of testing or raising the required passing score for repeat test takers. (FMW)

Studied the influence of prior treatment history of a mentally retarded child and identity of the treatment mediator on the rating of alternative treatment procedures by 105 graduate education and 53 undergraduate psychology students. Found that treatment history partially influenced ratings but mediator identity had no effect. (FMW)

The "Program Evaluation Standards" supplies a useful framework for generating questions to raise about any evaluation plan or evaluation report to assess its pros and cons. It is a valuable "how-to" for graduate students and professionals. This second edition incorporates changes in the field in the last decade. (SLD)

Reviews and integrates 113 empirical studies on performance appraisals that were published between 1980 and 1990 in business, communication, and psychology journals. Finds that organizations use collaborative and traditional instruments to evaluate employees; raters' training is essential; multiple raters are more effective than single raters;…

Proposes an instrument for assessing the extent to which either sound arguments or power are found in scientific and political discussions. Empirical research is described that investigated the relation between the quality of evaluation research and the quality of discussion in policy-making processes in which the research is used. (Contains 47…

Twelve specific suggestions for evaluators concerning development, presentation, and followup of improved evaluation recommendations are discussed. Offering effective recommendations requires special skills that need to be recognized, studied carefully, and passed along to practitioners and students. (TJH)

Describes the lessons that can be learned from the recent history of assessment in the English language arts. Considers the possible future uses to which assessment might be put in the near future. Explores the assessment activities of the National Assessment of Educational Progress over the past several years. (HB)

Describes the cognitive processes used by well-educated, motivated adults as they make critical judgments about information under naturalistic and conducive conditions. Discusses theories about the nature of evaluation from critical thinking literature and from cognitive psychology; the role of evaluation among other cognitive processes; and the…

Summarizes books, ERIC documents, and journal articles to provide a guide to some recent discussions of various kinds of student-centered assessments. (JPB)

Assessed the viability of the Comprehensive Clinical Performance Grid for Student Evaluation, introduced at The New England College of Optometry in 1996 in clinical student assessment. Analyzed faculty and student feedback and consistency with previous evaluations, between evaluators, and between clinical sites and tracts. Found satisfaction with…

Review of eight studies evaluating strategies for teaching nursing research found they emphasized contextual rather than internal or external validity. A typology for research on teaching strategies was proposed using the categories of purpose, methodological assumptions, types of validity, and sample size. (Contains 45 references.) (SK)

Investigates how experienced and inexperienced raters score essays written by English as a Second Language (ESL) students on two different prompts. Shows that the inexperienced raters were more severe than the experienced raters on one prompt but not on the other prompt, and that differences between the two groups of raters were eliminated…

Examines the findings from a national survey that was part of a research project of the National Center for Postsecondary Improvement (NCPI). The findings are used to develop and present a multidimensional approach for improving an institution's strategy for supporting and using student assessment. (EV)