Examined the criterion-related validity of a battery of six educational diagnostic and achievement tests for actual reading level of a group of 155 learning disabled students enrolled in grades four to seven and a subgroup of 46 learning disabled students enrolled in grades five and six. (NRB)

Information is presented on the psychometric characteristics of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, a measure of psychotropic drug effects. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the checklist appeared very good. Interrater reliability was generally in the moderate range. In general, validity was established for most Aberrant Behavior…

Identifies a valid reading test to be used in selecting prospective civil service employees. Discusses reading requirements of the job, selecting a commercial reading test, validating the reading test, and applicant scores on the selected test. (Author/CT)

A study involving 63 third graders revealed that the Wide Range Achievement Test gives higher grade equivalent scores than the Test of Written Spelling and that Canadian and American norms were incongruent. Spelling error analysis suggested that the visual image should be a primary focus for both third-grade and remedial students. (CL)

Discusses the suggestion that certain features of "real life" language use must be incorporated in any assessment of a foreign language learner's communicative competence. The validity of current assessment schemes, such as role play tasks, is discussed, and a case study of a role play testing situation is reported. (SED)

Two samples of 177 and 125 community college students were administered two different RAM Scale formats, then responded to three dichotomous school related criterion variables. Evidence supports the concurrent validity of RAM Scale classifications with student preferences for instructors with views similar to or different from the student's.…

Pascarella and Terenzini developed five factorially derived institutional integration scales to operationalize Tinto's conceptual model of college student withdrawal. Some psychometric characteristics of these scales were estimated for disadvantaged students at an urban commuter college. The scales showed improved characteristics after item…

This study examined the test-retest reliability and criterion validity of basal mastery tests of three commercial reading series. Results indicated that reliability and validity of the test varied among and within instruments. Implications for developing and using basal mastery tests are discussed. (Author/MT)

A measure of specialty indecision was administered to 567 medical students along with measures of vocational development and exploratory behavior. Initial evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Specialty Indecision Scale indicate that it is internally consistent, relates more to specialty choice than to career choice, and inversely…

Disguising scale purpose by using an innocuous skill title and filler items had no effect on the reliability and validity of Rotter's Interpersonal Trust Scale. (Author)

Offers a case study of how one teacher used readability formulas to select the most appropriate materials for her students. Presents 10 suggestions that the teacher followed to avoid being tyrannized by the formulas. (FL)

The Florida Court decision reaffirms a state's right to impose a diploma sanction when competency tests are valid. Testing specialists now have a precedent for demonstrating curricular and instructional validity. Competency testing programs are a useful method for implementing instructional improvements. (DWH)

Examined test protocols of 64 male inpatient alcoholics to determine whether a general measure of mental health was related to inventories that assess psychopathology beyond what one could expect by subjects responding in a socially desirable manner. Results demonstrated the spuriousness of partial correlations in controlling for social…

The Mathematics Attribution Scale-Algebra (MAS) was designed to assess attributions to ability, effort, task, and environment for success or failure in algebra. The study examined the reliability and validity of the MAS with high ability high school students. Results present a complicated picture of the psychometric properties of the MAS. (Author)

Due to funding cuts and high attrition rates, many community colleges have turned to entrance examinations as a method of guiding students to better educational choices. Research dealing with the predictive value of three major aptitude tests is explained. (DF)