After reviewing the history and evolution of criterion referenced tests and citing the writings of other researchers, the author summarizes the current state of criterion referenced tests. They are used to measure an individual's status with respect to a well-defined behavior domain; the behavior domain can be well-ordered, structured, or…

This study is a two-part analysis aimed at determining what differences occur in the incidence of poverty when different definitions of income are employed and when the time frame of analysis is changed. The first part of the analysis concentrates on school-aged children, while the second part studies families. The study is based on data from the…

This study discusses the relevance of social indicators for usage by less developed countries, examines the contexts in both the less and more developed countries with which social indicator methodologies must be compatible, and proposes a functional theory of society and societal development which offers a meaningful approach to social indicator…

This paper proposes an evaluation design for Mercer County, West Virginia's state funded early childhood education program, which was initiated to replace independent kindergarten programs. An introductory discussion lists the broad goals of the program, three data collection time schedules, program variables that define the model of the program,…

This manual provides a suggested outline for a series of three workshops evolving from the Pennsylvania Educational Quality Assessment's "School Report: A Status Profile" and "Manual for Interpreting School Reports" (both based on the Ten Goals of Quality Education). In addition to the workshops, the following are discussed: (a) Act 299--the…

This paper was commissioned to develop new perspectives on the evaluation of the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) for Citizenship and Social Studies. It criticizes the assessment model and advocates three new approaches to evaluating social studies education: a comparative approach with direct international comparisons of programs…

The objectives of this project were to 1) identify objectives in 14 existing computer based resource units which had no appropriate measuring devices, 2) formulate at least three measuring devices for each such objective, and 3) to enter all data into the computer based resource unit data bank for subsequent dissemination. The strategies and their…

Because of misconceptions regarding appropriate measurement strategies, it is necessary to draw distinctions between two major measurement methodologies, norm-referenced and criterion-referenced measurement, as they relate to determining basic academic capabilities. Norm-referenced measures are used to ascertain an individual's performance in…

Based on the learning theories of Benjamin S. Bloom, the program described in this report aims to help students develop basic skills for success in college work. The program, created for Virginia Highlands Community College, centers around English and mathematics learning laboratories. All students can enroll in regular college level courses, but…

This second annual color keyed evaluation report describes 17 State goals for vocational education, presents criterion questions for each goal, identifies quantitative evidence, analyzes data to measure the extent of attainment of the objectives, and develops recommendations. Written as an evaluation system for a State project to aid vocational…

Considers four major decisions to illustrate the complexity of decision making about pretesting as part of the instructional process: whether a pretest should be administered; the behaviors that should be pretested; how pretesting should be accomplished; and how teaching strategies should be adjusted to pretest results. (MBR)

Presented are reasons why teachers should continuously assess their teaching methods and testing procedures. The importance of stating course objectives in measurable terms is stressed. (DB)

Shifting to results-based accountability is a difficult stage in reforming family and children's services. Heretofore, these services have been more concerned with the number of clients seen or papers processed than in their clients' quality of life. This document should help communities find the data they need to measure qualitative outcomes. It…

Results of the investigation suggest that the facet-factorial approach can be an effective technique for the construction of rating scales to measure complex behavior such as music performance. (Author)