Research supported by the U.S. Office of Education, Contract OEC-6-10-239.

The purpose of this bulletin is to help the teacher derive the full value from the classroom test as an important educational tool. Principles of good test construction are explained and illustrated. Concrete examples of good procedure and poor procedure are offered. A checklist is presented of the salient points to keep in mind when preparing a…

Confidence Weighting (CW), after Ebel, and Multiple Responding (MR), after Coombs, are compared empirically to determine which improved test reliability more in the case of a course pretest derived from the final examination. It was hypothesized that MR, which purportedly measures partial knowledge, would be more effective than CW, which measures…

The intent of this guide is to define the scope and narrow the field of study as far as possible to the aeronautical knowledge required for qualifying for the private or commercial pilot (glider) certificate. Briefly summarized are type of test items used, hints for taking the test, and certificate requirements. The study outline is the basic…

The contribution of a 20-minute essay question, given as part of the one-hour achievement test in American History and Social Studies, to the pool of information available on a candidate from an all-objective examination of the College Board Admissions Testing Program is presented in this report. The study limits itself to a consideration of the…

Defines 13 concepts involved in understanding ionic equations and suggests the order in which they should be taught. Also analyzes incorrect responses on an ionic equations student exam. (MLH)

In response to requests for standardization on testing and grading, a pilot program for the administration and evaluation of objective examinations was instituted. Outlined are objectives, initial test item collection, procedural flow for examinations, faculty responsibilities, support staff responsibilities, and project coordinator services. (LBH)

Three programs to improve test-taking performance were evaluated. Subjects who had failed the Chartered Life Underwriter examination were assigned to four treatments: (1) training in test wiseness; (2) systematic densensitization of test anxiety; (3) a combination of (1) and (2); and (4) control. (Author/CTM)

Analysis of objective reference test results indicated that health education was found to be an effective means of raising the knowledge levels of elementary school children concerning health-related topics. (MJB)

Approximately three weeks after taking part of the WISC, the subjects were presented with the same questions, and four multiple choice answers were shown and read to them. The multiple choice method of presentation response yielded significantly higher scaled scores than did the standard WISC presentation. (Author)

From 13 objective interview items, five with adequate response variability were studied to determine if they would improve the validity of a verbal ability selection test in predicting work performance of 181 psychiatric aide trainees. In a multiple regression analysis, the verbal test correlated .27 with the weighted composite rating score.…

Investigates the circumstances under which answer changing is beneficial or detrimental to test performance. Analyzes the success of answer changing in relation to the reasons offered for changing. Concludes that students who reported guessing as their reason for changing answers were not nearly as likely to benefit from changing as were students…

Logic-based measurement brings into verbal reasoning tests the inferential objectivity of numerical reasoning tests. Implications for personnel selection include performance prediction, legal defensibility of personnel selection tests, design of economical tests, and test taxonomies which sample basic inferential processes. The linkage of…

A poll of 350 state and local English and language arts supervisors and an examination of research data both show that writing instruction is discouraged by the use of objective tests, while tests that include writing samples generally result in more teaching of writing. (MLF)