The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised is a semistructured interview for caregivers of children/adults for whom autism/pervasive developmental disorders is a possible diagnosis. The interview was reorganized, shortened, and modified for children with mental ages from 18 months into adulthood. Its psychometric properties are strong for preschool…

Two studies involving 725 elementary school students describe the development and preliminary validation of a measure of children's life satisfaction, the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale. For the most part, the measure's subscales correlate as expected with various criterion measures. The instrument appears useful for research…

Tests the validity of the Principle-Centered Living Survey (PCLS), which measures principle-centeredness. Results from a convenience sample (n=232) indicate that the PCLS possesses excellent internal consistency and construct validity. (JPS)

Presents reliability and validity analyses for samples of sixth- and eighth-grade students for newly constructed scales measuring adolescent alcohol use and its risk factors. Results demonstrate that young adolescents can give reliable and valid responses to self-report measures previously used with older adolescents. (JPS)

Examined Basic School Skills Inventory-Screen to determine its agreement with teacher judgments of student performance to increase relevance of educational programs for young children. Observed and tested primary grade children (n=64) and validated results with second group of kindergartners (n=208). Results were predictive of subsequent school…

Temporal envelope and spectral cue resolution were evaluated simultaneously in seven adults with severe/profound hearing impairments. Results revealed that the Auditory Numbers Test (ANT) is differentially sensitive to responses based upon gross temporal envelope and spectral cues in the speech signal. The ANT is endorsed as a screening tool for…

Bachman's framework of language testing and standard of authenticity for language testing instruments were used to evaluate three instruments--the SPEAK (Spoken Proficiency English Assessment Kit) test, OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview), and a performance test--as language tests for nonnative-English-speaking teaching assistants. (Contains 53…

The reliability and validity of a newly constructed instrument, the Breast Self-Examination Proficiency Rating Instrument, was tested with 84 instructed and 80 uninstructed nursing students. Results support beginning reliability and preliminary validity when the instrument is used in a controlled setting. (SLD)

Three short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), developed in 1991, were cross-validated on 207 male and 133 female adolescent psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Results show psychometric properties for the short forms that are comparable to those of the WAIS-R standardization sample. (SLD)

The Condom Attitude Scale by W.P. Saco and others (1991) was modified for use with adolescents. Four studies involving 595 African American and 52 white adolescents demonstrate acceptable internal consistency, a stable factor structure, and criterion and convergent validity with other measures conceptually related to condom use attitudes. (SLD)

Reports on the development of a test of phonemic awareness suitable for administration to young children. Compares kindergarteners' performance on a measure controlling for global similarity and another measure not controlled. Finds support for the importance of controlling for global similarity when attempting to measure phoneme invariance. (RS)

The Effective School Function Inventory was constructed to operationalize the major constructs of efficient school operation. An analysis with 124 teachers identified 4 meaningful factors: (1) supportive collegial interaction; (2) cooperative facilitation of goal attainment in learning/sharing; (3) morally oriented leadership; and (4)…

This study to determine the validity of the Blind Learning Aptitude Test (BLAT), involving 30 students, found significant correlations between scores on the BLAT and braille oral reading speed, comprehension, age, grade, years of blindness, intelligence, and achievement. The correlation was greater between the BLAT and comprehension than between…

Rorschach protocols of 18 sexually-abused children were compared to protocols of 18 clinical controls. Dependent variables included responses with overt sexual contents, sexual symbols, and near-sexual content. Results suggested that the dependent variables, in combination, could differentiate sexually abused children from other groups. Other…

A modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory were administered to three groups. The CAP abuse scores distinguished among physically abusive mothers with a childhood history of abuse and nonabusive mothers with and without a childhood history of abuse. Intergroup differences were exhibited in rigidity and…