Critically examines arguments that downgrade the importance of test reliability in English language proficiency testing of international students who attend British universities. Urges universities to move quickly to adopt an appropriate multiple- judgement approach to English language proficiency assessment and identifies alternative sources of…

Evaluates the Role Repertory Grid Procedure, a technique derived from personal construct theory, for its practicality and validity as a way of gathering patron perceptions about the effectiveness and efficiency of academic library space. Concludes that further research regarding validity and reliability is needed. (Author/LRW)

Reports the multistage development of the Community Service Attitudes Scale, an instrument for measuring college students' attitudes toward community service. Analysis of scores for samples of 437 and 332 students yields strong reliability evidence, and principal components analysis supports the helping behavior model of S. Schwartz. (SLD)

Examines the reliability and validity of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior (SIQ-JR) as an instrument for identifying and assessing current suicidal ideation in a sample of 91 children and adolescents. Psychometric results showed that the internal consistency reliability coefficient and the test-retest reliability coefficient of the SIQ-JR…

Describes the development and validation of the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language (IASNL), which was based on a conceptual framework related to beliefs about language, recognition of sexist language, and willingness to use inclusive language. Results from four studies indicated that the IASNL was valid and reliable. Two short…

A self-report measure, the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems Scale (CHIP), was developed to identify basic coping dimensions for responding to health problems. The CHIP factor structure, established with samples of 532 adults and 598 adults in Canada, is cross-validated with 390 general medical patients and 286 chronic back pain patients.…

The Adolescent Attachment Questionnaire, an assessment of attachment characteristics in adolescents, was developed and validated with a normative sample of 691 adolescents and 133 adolescents in psychiatric treatment. Internal reliability and agreement for the 91 sample members who completed the scale twice were adequate. (SLD)

This paper reviews the reliability of picture identification tools for assessing preschool children in previous studies; provides recommendations for assessing the health knowledge of preschool children; and suggests ways that health knowledge data can be used appropriately in early childhood education programs. (SM)

The consistency between raters over three years of a high-stakes performance assessment was examined in two studies involving a total of approximately 3,000 students in grades three, five, and eight. Results show that raters in different years differ in severity, with raters in mathematics most consistent, and those in language arts least…

Examines the internal consistency reliabilities for 14 previously-published computer attitude scales based on responses from preservice teachers, practicing K-12 teachers, and teacher educators. Describes the Teachers' Attitude toward Computers Questionnaire (TAC) that included 32 subscales. (LRW)

Examined differences in performance as well as reliability and validity indices for 256 Head Start children screened with Brigance K&1 screen. Found high overall test consistency, but considerable variability across subscales. Classification analyses established that the Brigance was not completely accurate in predicting early school…

Studied the internal structure of a self-report measure of depressed mood in school children, the Child Depression Inventory (M. Kovacs and A. Beck, 1977) with 92 Russian and 139 English children (mean age: 12 years, 10 months). Internal reliability and consistency results and factor analysis support the use of the scale with non-Western samples…

Examines the psychometric properties of scores on the Work Preference Inventory (WPI), particularly its factor structure and scale reliabilities. Analyses of data from 200 undergraduates showed qualified support for the inventory and its use for developmental purposes. States that the WPI may be a useful tool in stimulating students to examine…

Describes a classroom activity, listing step-by-step directions, that demonstrates the unreliability of essay scoring. Explains that after the exercise the class discussion should address the problematic factors in scoring essays. Lists recommendations for improving reliability and validity of essay scoring. (CMK)

Discusses the basic concepts of testing and item development and the application of alternative assessments to information literacy content for library instruction. Topics include reliability; validity; statistical analysis; selected response, including checklists, rank order, or simple match; constructed response; essays; and complex assessments.…