This study investigated the generality of the negative suggestion effect in objective tests. College students read text passages and took objective tests. Later, they rated statements' validity, including statements from the initial test. Students were more likely to consider objectively false statements true if they had appeared on the earlier…

Forty mothers, living in economically disadvantaged inner-city locations completed four parenting questionnaires (Parental Attitudes to Childrearing, Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire, Raising Children, and Conflict Tactics Scale) from two to four weeks apart. Significant test-retest reliability was established for all four measures and…

Age and rank of assessor were the only characteristics significantly affecting scores given in three police and six fire service assessment centers, but the magnitude of the effect was quite small. Results were attributed to assessor selection processes, the way centers were conducted, and type of assessor training. (SK)

Used confirmatory methodology to examine reliability and validity of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-III in 922 families with children with disabilities. The Cohesion Scale proposed by instrument authors remained intact. The original Adaptability Scale was divided into two scales, Adaptability focusing on leadership and family…

Discusses the importance of establishing the reliability of independent observers' judgments. Argues that the percentage of agreement measure is more difficult to interpret than are correlation measures. Recommends that the field of literacy research adopt correlation as the standard method for estimating the reliability of observers' judgments.…

A brief version of the instrument developed by S. Schwartz (1992, 1994) to measure the structure and content of human values was developed. Studies with 199 adults and 420 adults support the reliability of scores produced by the brief inventory's four three-item scales. Uses of the brief form are discussed. (SLD)

A rating scale to assess career choices was tested with 143 high school students. Scores correlated with an objective testing method based on the American College Test (ACT) Career Planning Program. (SK)

Reports on a study designed to test the validity and reliability of a newly developed career self-efficacy test called the Perceived Employability Scale. A group (N=2,600) of low-income women with diverse cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds living in Hawaii participated in this investigation. Recommendations for researchers and practitioners…

The reliability and validity of the Novaco Anger Scale (NAS) (R. Novaco, 1994) were studied with 204 male correctional offenders admitted for general or violent offenses. Results show the NAS to be an effective measure of anger in an offender population. Results also support the validity of a computerized version of the NAS. (SLD)

A definition and typology of peer assessment between students in higher education is proposed, and the theoretical underpinnings of the method are discussed, based on a review of both process and outcome studies. These studies suggest that peer assessment is of adequate reliability and validity in many situations. (SLD)

Reports on the validity of the Indicators of Abuse (IOA) Screen, used by social-services-agency practitioners as an abuse screening tool. An abuse-indicator model evolving from the IOA suggests three main types of abuse signals: caregivers' personal problems/issues, caregivers interpersonal problems, and care receivers' social-support shortages…

Investigates two aspects of research analyses in quantitative research studies reported in the 1996 issues of "Journal of Counseling & Development" (JCD). Acceptable methodological practice regarding significance testing and evaluation of score reliability has evolved considerably. Contemporary thinking on these issues is described; practice as…

This research evaluated the psychometric adequacy of the Racial Identity Attitude Scale (RAIS). Participants (N=293) included college students and community residents ages 17 to 82 years. Results do not support the psychometric adequacy of the latest version of RAIS. Psychometric issues are discussed; caution is recommended in using RAIS. (EMK)

Describes the validity and reliability of the Self-Report Knowledge Inventory (SRKI) and the Opportunity to Learn Inventory (OTLI) as self-assessment tools. Both instruments were found to be friendly, relatively easy to design, easy to respond to, easy to score, time-saving, non-threatening, valid, and reliable for comparing and making decisions…

This study began validation of the Family Profile Form, constructed to link evaluation of couples and families with specific structured enrichment exercises. Reliability and validity with different samples of participants were found to be within acceptable limits of statistical significance. (Author/MKA)