A comparison was made of responses to two types of personality inventory items, either sentence-type items or adjective-type items. Three methods of analysis were applied. It was concluded that the two item types give approximately equal results. (CTM)

High and low achievers listened to 20 sentences under imagery or repetition instructions. The next day, learning was assessed by multiple choice items in which correct alternatives were stated in either verbatim or synonym form, and incorrect alternatives contained either familiar or new words. Implications for test construction were discussed.…

A multiple true-false item is one where a testee has to identify statements as true or false within a cluster (of two or more) of such statements. Clusters are then scored as items. This study showed such a procedure to yield less reliable results than traditional true-false items. (JKS)

The feasibility of measuring responding desirably with attitude-opinion items is discussed, and an index based on 16 such items is presented. Estimates of reliability and validity for this index, and examples of its use as a covariate (control) in attitude research are presented. Similarities and differences from related scales are discussed.…

An heuristic method for constructing affective tests emphasizes a set of key questions which are used to define an affective construct, decide on a measurement procedure, and develop a framework on which to base items. Affective tests should be based upon prior specifications of constructs, and then manipulated empirically. (Author/MV)

In October, 1976, a new type of question was introduced into the Victorian HSC German test: A listening comprehension question with multiple-choice answers has replaced the written reproduction question. Results of a computer analysis of the answers given in the exam are reported. (SW)

A set of guidelines for planning and establishing a certification testing program is presented. The guidelines are organized into three components: (1) content specification; (2) item development; and (3) test design. A mythical new certification testing program, called the Tennis Players' Certification Testing Program, is used to illustrate the…

A study examined whether students beginning a cell biology course with prior knowledge of its three areas (genetics, histology, and biochemistry) would retain that advantage throughout the course and whether achievement was influenced by the order of questions in a test. (MSE)

Responses to a sample test were simulated for examinees under free-response and multiple-choice formats. Test score sets were correlated with randomly generated sets of unit-normal measures. The extent of superiority of free response tests was sufficiently small so that other considerations might justifiably dictate format choice. (Author/DWH)

Examination of 99 mathematics teachers' ratings of item difficulty indicated that the ratings were influenced by the teachers' attitudes and characteristics and their interpretation of the skills measured by the items. Teachers who rated items as relatively easy tended to favor tougher standards, grade students in relation to other students, and…

Investigates the relationship between analogical reasoning and academic learning. Results show that efforts to improve academic achievement through training in analogical thinking are based on the correct assumption that analogical thinking can be trained and that various methods of training are effective in this regard. (MS)

Presents three examination questions, graded in difficulty, that explore the topic of potential energy surfaces using a diagrammatic approach. Provides and discusses acceptable solutions including diagrams. (CW)

The validity of the Canadian Tests of Basic Skills is examined from the perspective that several of its subtests are highly speeded. Results show that there is very little relationship between the number of items attempted and the number correct and suggest that guessing is involved when more items are attempted. (Author/JAZ)

Critics have occasionally asserted that the number of factors in the 16PF tests is too large. This study discusses factor-analytic methodology and reviews more than 50 studies in the field. It concludes that the number of important primaries encapsulated in the series is no fewer than the stated number. (Author/JAZ)

Results from the 1979 Minnesota Computer Literacy Assessment show that eighth- and eleventh-grade females perform better than males in some specific areas of programing, i.e., those that involve problem analysis and algorithmic application where the problems are expressed verbally rather than mathematically. (Author/LRW)