The Test of Knowledge about Mental Retardation was developed to measure attitudes, not knowledge. It consists of 20 error-choice items requiring respondents to select one of four incorrect alternatives. An additional 20 questions address general knowledge of mental retardation. Psychometric analysis indicates satisfactory item characteristics,…

Explored validity and reliability of Adult Career Concerns Inventory (ACCI) using data from 104 graduate nursing students. Findings support construct validity and reliability of ACCI. Concluded that, although the ACCI seemed to be psychometrically sound, the use of other measures in conjunction with it would be recommended practice in assessing…

Describes theoretically based structural family assessment procedure designed for use in evaluating therapy outcome. Explains how procedure involves evaluating family's interactional patterns on three tasks along six dimensions (structure, flexibility, resonance, developmental stage, identified patienthood, and conflict resolution). Presents…

This study examined the scores obtained by 21 elementary-level gifted students on 4 different intellectual measures--Stanford-Binet (LM), Stanford-Binet (Fourth Edition), Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test, and the Cognitive Abilities Test. Results showed that the population of gifted students identified will vary greatly depending upon which test…

Explored validity of Neurobehavioral Evaluation System, set of computerized tests and examined validity of reaction time variability as index of sustained attention. Findings from 105 children showed children able to complete 4 of tests. Findings from subsample of 88 children showed test performance significantly associated with teacher ratings of…

A new 22-item measure of an individual's tolerance for ambiguity, the Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance (MSTAT-I), is described. The measure addresses characteristics of ambiguous stimuli and reactions to perceived ambiguity. Evidence from 148 undergraduates for reliability and convergent and discriminant validity is presented in support…

Techniques for increasing honesty of student self-report measures, the inaccessible coding system and the alphabet-soup response form, were investigated in a study involving over 1,200 high school students. Both techniques were regarded favorably by students. Because both enhance anonymity, it appears that they could be used jointly. (SLD)

The Psychoeducational Profile was translated into Chinese, adapted, and administered to 23 autistic children and 40 children with normal development, ages 3-7, in Hong Kong. The scale was found to have criterion-related validity, discriminant validity, and properties of a developmental scale. (Author/JDD)

The Competitiveness Questionnaire (CQ) was constructed to measure two competitiveness perspectives, Interpersonal Competitiveness and Goal Competitiveness. Initial version of CQ was administered to 94 college students; revised version was administered to 195 students. Findings provide some evidence for construct of Goal Competitiveness and for its…

The paper describes a self-concept scale specifically designed for use with hearing-impaired adolescents and preadolescents. The "Self-Concept Scale for the Hearing Impaired" is a Likert-type self-report scale using linked verbal and pictorial material, and results in both a global score and a self-concept profile. Validity issues are…

Reports on development and psychometric properties of Feminist Family Therapy Scale (FFTS), a 17-item instrument intended to reflect degree to which family therapists conceptualize process of family therapy from feminist-informed perspective. Found that the instrument discriminated between self-identified feminists and nonfeminists, women and men,…

Studied gender differences in factor structure of Basic Interest Scales (BISs) from 1927-85. Results describe clear factor structure for BISs, but scale loadings did not support BISs' General Occupational Theme classifications. Found gender differences for between-factor correlations and relatively stable factor structure over time that existed…

Presents an instrument for assessing an individual student's decoding abilities by having a teacher analyze a student's attempts to pronounce a fictitious list of children's first and last names. Argues that the instrument is valid and reliable. (MG)

Considers problems with use of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Presents brief history of MBTI and brief theory of type. Examines MBTI's statistical structure, reliability, and validity. Concludes that MBTI does not conform to many basic standards expected of psychological tests. (NB)

Examination of the role of psychometrics in the development of multiple-choice tests and performance-based assessments and consideration of validity and reliability issues leads to this conclusion: Choice of assessments for instruction or large-scale accountability depends on which is more appropriate for the particular purposes. Taxonomic…