Tested an empirically based prediction model of school dropout on juvenile delinquents (N=137). Identified four factors yielding a high level of prediction: misbehavior in school, disliking school, the negative influence of peers with respect to dropping out and getting into trouble, and a marginal or weak relationship with parents. (Author/ABB)

Eighty-four hearing-impaired postsecondary students were involved in a study of the criterion validity and reliability of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf rating scales for assessment of contextual speech intelligibility. Results revealed generally high overall validity and reliability coefficients, though write-down procedures were a…

Discusses the issue of oral communication tests through an account of an oral test administered to nearly 1,000 students at Yarmouk University Language Center. The ways in which the institution attempted to overcome problems in the oral test's feasibility, validity, and reliability are presented. (Author/CB)

A visual analogue mood scale was developed that included an option indicating subjects didn't understand the meaning of an adjective in an item. The item content significantly affected responses, raising questions about the adequacy of recently proposed affective taxonomies that were based on restricted samples of emotion-descriptive adjectives.…

Examined assessment practices in 54 model programs for early education of handicapped children (ages prenatal through six years). Results showed only 19 tests were used by at least five programs; only one device was used by over one-half. Although technical adequacy was reportedly an important factor in selection, analysis revealed only three…

A 12-item acculturation scale developed for Hispanics correlated highly with the respondents' generation, length of residence in the United States, age at arrival, ethnic self-identification, and with an acculturation scale. Language use, media preferences, and ethnic social relations were the three factors accounting for 67.6 percent of the total…

This study tested the multifaceted, hierarchical structure of self- concept (SC) against alternative models and determined whether academic SC can be discriminated from academic grades. Results supported the multidimensional interpretation of SC and demonstrated that general SC could be interpreted as distinct from but correlated with academic SC.…

Presents major stages in design and development of criterion referenced tests (CRT) with emphasis on differences between CRT construction and norm-referenced test construction. Discussion covers test interpretation; test theory; preparation for test construction (hierarchical analysis, item type selection, and choosing number of items); test…

Reviews a secondary school version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) that focuses on two of the primary language skills: listening and reading. Subtest includes a variety of tasks measuring semantic, syntactic, and higher-level reading comprehension abilities. (NKA)

Argues that the adequacy of pidgins and creoles as expressive instruments requires systematic empirical research. This research would be based on two sound approaches: a macro-survey of language resources and a micro-analysis of language samples. (CB)

Describes a survey of 356 adult students enrolled in university-level courses at the Open Learning Institute which was conducted to assess the predictive validity of Tinto's theoretical model of student dropout. It was found that, overall, the Tinto model appears to be a useful framework for such investigations. (Author/LRW)

Criticizes methodology and findings reported in the "Consequences" article, particularly in regard to disparities in characteristics of the samples, validity of the measures, and interpretation of results. (NH)

A significant number of Black graduate students enrolled at the University of Florida in 1982 had higher grades than White students who had performed better than they on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This suggests that the GRE is insensitive to the factors that affect Blacks' academic performance. (KH)

The College and University Classroom Environment Inventory, a college seminar dynamics measurement instrument based on earlier research on assessment of elementary and secondary classroom environmental characteristics, is described. Its testing and initial applications in research on student outcomes and teacher and student preferences of…

Cognitive and affective scales for assessing computer attitudes were administered to 2,525 students and educators. Results supported test validity and reliability. Generally positive cognitive attitudes were found, as well as a rejection of negative affective attitudes. (The 14 items are included) (GDC)