This paper discusses the development of instruments to measure individual differences in behavior during infancy. The Infant Temperament Questionnaire (ITQ), which was designed to measure the temperament dimensions identified by the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS), constituted the methodological starting point in the search for a dimensional…

This paper examines those aspects of qualitative and quantitative research that might reasonably count towards effective educational research. The problem is addressed by examining their philosophical differences, their pursuit of objectivity, their approach to values, and the pursuit of reliability and validity. The possibility of rapproachment…

The article recommends (1) the formulation of course objectives and valid measuring instruments for evaluation and (2) the determination of training needs. The solution is a four-step procedure to identify: parameters for ranking training needs, types of training programs needed, criteria for evaluation, and ways training contributed to…

Evaluation is data gathering, analysis, and interpretation that leads to decisions about practices and goals. Relatively simple analytical techniques can suffice for many evaluation purposes. Evaluation of inservice education may be viewed as an operating system where input is provided, processes are implemented, and products are generated. When…

Challenges to classical psychometric theory are examined in the context of a broader range of fundamental, derived, and intuitive measurements in psychology; the challenges include content-referenced testing, latent trait theory, and generalizability theory. A taxonomy of psychological measurement is developed, based on: (1) purposes of…

The term, standardized achievement test, has evolved to imply a broad package of materials which includes a wide array of norms, lists of scoring services and educational objectives tested, and aids to interpretation. Test authors are convinced that that individual differences in achievement do exist; that recognition of these differences will…

This study attempts to clarify some of the issues involved in defining the effectiveness of compensatory education programs. It discusses the extent to which conclusions about the effectiveness of compensatory education programs are affected by two major components of an evaluation: the period of time on which the evaluation is based and the…

This document introduces a study conducted by the National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) to review, interpret, and disseminate findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments in citizenship and social studies. The study represents an investigation funded by the Education Commission of the States and coordinated by…

In the 1940's and 1950's, the goal of the schools was equal opportunity for all. Now the goal is to maximize the potential of each child through individualized instruction. As a result, standardized tests and measures lacking in prescriptive information on students are falling into disfavor. The three principal past uses of evaluation--placement,…

The revised educational objectives for citizenship are presented in this booklet. (The original nine objectives are listed in ED 033 871). Brief summaries of the history and goals of the National Assessment, the procedures for developing revised educational objectives, and the main changes in the citizenship objectives precede the outline of…

In this paper, problems with testing as a method of educational evaluation are discussed and suggestions are made to schools with respect to strategies for more effective evaluation procedures. Various evaluation processes, their uses, and their limitations, are described. (WI)

The authors argue that the usefulness and legitimacy of measuring student growth depend upon the purpose for which the scores will be used. They conclude there are many situations in education in which measurement of student growth is possible, justifiable, and informative. (Author)

The author examines the development of theories and practices of intelligence testing during the early years of the twentieth century. (MB)

The components of three areas that pose special problems in the evaluation of television programs are discussed: design, sampling, and measurement. Methods for ameliorating difficulties in these problem areas are suggested. (Author)