Internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity coefficients and replicability of the factor structure were studied for previously validated locus of control (LOC) and achievement-need scales administered to 192 graduate students. Results indicated adequate internal consistency for the LOC scale and convergent, but not discriminant,…

A performance-standard setting procedure termed judgmental policy capturing (JPC) and its application are described. A study involving 12 panelists demonstrated the feasibility of the JPC method for setting performance standards for classroom teachers seeking certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (SLD)

The validity of the Five Dimensional Life Satisfaction Index was evaluated with 48 adults with moderate mental retardation. Results showed reliability of alternate forms and internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and construct validity. (Author/DB)

Describes several projects that integrate the Internet and specific Internet resources into undergraduate teaching and learning. Problems are discussed, including trying to retrieve specific and useful information, questions of reliability and accuracy of information, the need to become more user friendly, and demands on libraries for training and…

An instrument was developed to assess the community functioning of released insanity acquitees using items from previous scales and some original items. Preliminary results with samples from 254 to 1,187 subjects indicate that the developed questionnaire compares favorably in reliability with existing instruments. (SLD)

Discusses the applications of summative rating scales to assess frequency of language learning strategy use, describing the most widely employed strategy scale, the English-as-a-Second-Language/English-as-a-Foreign-Language version of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). Studies of strategy use frequencies and factor analytic…

In order to examine the theory that children often mold parental actions, analyzed whether parents are consistent with each other or with themselves in parenting attitudes and practices. Parents largely acted alike, although fathers more often acted in ways independent of how their wives were perceived to act. (RJM)

Professionals (n=201) working with child sexual abuse victims rated the normalcy of various behaviors with anatomical dolls for children ages two to five. Respondents agreed that overtly sexual behaviors were abnormal for nonabused children, but ratings of ambiguous behaviors varied depending on respondent's profession, gender, and years of…

An auxiliary study of the direct observation method for counting periodical usage in Evans Library at Texas A&M University found that student observations contain substantial error and that aggregation problems and cost issues are fundamental constraints to this method. Concludes direct observation may be useful in calibrating the results of…

The reliability and validity of Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP) scores were investigated for 53 mothers of young children with disabilities and 60 mothers of young children without handicaps. Results generally support the integrity of CAP scores, although the random response subscale's reliability could be improved by omitting some items.…

Four bootstrap methods are identified for constructing confidence intervals for the binomial-error model. The extent to which similar results are obtained and the theoretical foundation of each method and its relevance and ranges of modeling the true score uncertainty are discussed. (SLD)

A study investigated the reliability and validity of the Study Process Questionnaire (Biggs) for 352 undergraduates in a Nigerian university. Although it was found that the concepts involved were relevant to this population and scales and subscales had adequate internal consistency, cross-cultural comparison of scores was problematic. (Author/MSE)

The development and psychometric assessment of a Risk of Hospitalization Scale are described. The scale, designed to help case managers for the seriously mentally ill meet clients' needs, demonstrates satisfactory reliability and validity for 18 vignettes and 60 actual cases. The scale has been adopted for use in New Jersey. (SLD)

The use of sampling weights in deriving population estimates for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the effects of nonresponse and undercoverage on those estimates are described. The estimation of sampling variability from complex sample surveys is also reviewed, concentrating on the jackknife repeated replication…

Results from a pilot group of 22 parents of preschoolers and 96 parents of toddlers suggest that 3 developed measures of the supportive relationship between parents and child caregivers--the Caregiver Support Appraisal Scale-V, the Caregiver Support Appraisal Scale-P, and the Caregiver Supportive Behavior Scale--are valid and reliable measures.…