Reports that coders were able to judge adequately the difference between immediate reward and delayed reward in news stories but not the difference between subcategories. (FL)

Results of two studies suggested that acquisition of route mapping during the preschool years provides a means of organizing spatial information and internal representations necessary for successful problem solving in general. (Author/RH)

Investigated the effect on student performance of changes in question structure and sequence on a GCE 0-level multiple-choice chemistry test. One finding noted is that there was virtually no change in test reliability on reducing the number of options (from five to per test item). (JN)

The binomial error model includes form-to-form difficulty differences as error variance and leads to Ruder-Richardson formula 21 as an estimate of reliability. If the form-to-form component is removed from the estimate of error variance, the binomial model leads to KR 20 as the reliability estimate. (Author/BW)

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…

Examines the interclass and intraclass reliability of three published informal reading inventories and their alternate forms and concludes that though acceptable, the reliabilities of the inventories suggest the need for cautious interpretation. (HOD)

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 known target population of severely mentally disabled in community mental health centers is defined. Criteria include intensive treatment contact and persistent, severe disability, but not diagnosis. Feasible and reliable screening procedures are demonstrated. (Author/BS)

Offers personal reflections on the testing of writing, concluding that teachers make wide and effective use of a variety of test types. (FL)

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)

This paper describes the procedures and results of two studies designed to yield empirical comparisons of the error magnitude in three change measures: the simple gain score, the residualized difference score, and the base free measure (Tucker et al). Residualized scores possessed smaller standard errors of measurement. (Author/BS)

Three numerical coefficients for analyzing the validity and reliability of ratings are described. Each coefficient is computed as the ratio of an obtained to a maximum sum of differences in ratings. The coefficients are also applicable to the item analysis, agreement analysis, and cluster or factor analysis of rating-scale data. (Author/BW)

Presents data from studies designed to determine the psychometric properties of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Subjects included 294 school children and 269 children who were psychiatric inpatients. Results showed the CDI can distinguish children with emotional distress from normal school children. (BH)