Describes study of college freshmen in Taiwan that was designed to investigate whether the use of television in the language laboratory would affect attendance, scores, and student attitudes toward the second language class, the instructor, and the teaching materials. Positive effects of TV on the attendance, scores, and attitudes of students in…

Discussion of appropriate feedback in an instructional setting focuses on a study of undergraduates learning graphics materials production techniques that investigated whether internal feedback, provided by an expert system, differed in effectiveness from external feedback, provided by an instructor. The effects of each on processing activities…

Describes an evaluation of variability in the percentage of subject searching in an online catalog among branch libraries of one university. The results reported include variability by time of day, day of week, and week of semester. The value of this type of information for library administration is discussed. (CLB)

Explores the development and application of syllabus and textbook design principles in the creation and use of an English-as-a-Second Language textbook that completely replaced the use of a structurally based course in Sri Lankan schools. Course components, the structural and functional syllabus, testing problems, and materials team training are…

This discussion of research methodologies and performance prediction in business simulations describes a study of undergraduates that considered time in the prediction of simulation performance, and explored how relationships between performance and its antecedents vary over the simulation's duration. Hypotheses tested are explained and results of…

The impact of overall test length and difficulty on the expert judgments of item performance by the Nedelsky method were studied. Five university-level instructors predicting the performance of minimally competent candidates on a mathematics examination were fairly consistent in their assessments regardless of length or difficulty of the test.…

Reviews recent developments in the following areas of research on affective disorders and related syndromes in the preadult years: (1) psychiatric and diagnostic (nonbiological) studies; (2) hypothesis-testing and causal-explanation studies; and (3) studies of developmental psychopathology. Indicates directions for future research. (Author/BJV)

This third article on National Assessment results discusses general achievement trends and changes in performance over time. Performance scales, national trends, current achievement, learning concepts and skills, problem solving, minorities, and gender are considered. (MNS)

Seven formats of educational testing were compared according to student preferences/perceptions of how well each test method evaluates learning. Formats compared include true/false, multiple-choice, matching, multi-digit testing (MDT), fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay. Subjects were 1,440 university students. Results indicate that tests…

Describes study of fifth and sixth grade Jewish Israeli students that tested the hypothesis that intrinsic motivation will be differentially affected by task-involving and ego-involving evaluation. Three feedback conditions involving grades and individual comments are explained, and results are discussed in terms of student interest and…

A new approach to the quantification and interpretation of change when only repeated cross-sectional data are available--the Trajectory Analysis of Matched Percentiles--is presented. A recent attempt to interpret the findings on reading achievement of the National Assessment of Educational Progress is critically analyzed. (SLD)

Asserts that assessment has become a leading national educational issue. Presents a chronology of events in California related to student assessment reform. Identifies the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) three key elements: (1) individual student scores; (2) performance testing; and (3) curriculum improvement. (CFR)

Reviews research on detection of cheating by students on multiple choice tests. Discusses three ideas concerning detecting, deterring, and confronting cheating. Discusses problems confronting teachers attempting to use statistical data to prove cheating. (CFR)

Provides a literature review on the use of entry assessment, citing those who consider assessment tantamount to tracking and those who see it as constructive assistance. Offers examples of two colleges that use assessment to provide remedial and nonremedial students with equal options, and an inducement-based model emphasizing early prevention.…

Asserts that current technology makes it possible to administer organizational surveys by using computers. Describes processes of conducting a computer-administered survey. Finds that respondents who complete computer surveys find them more interesting and seem to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings while completing them. (CFR)