Looks at the large-scale experiments on the testing of oral proficiency in English, French, and German that have been carried out over the last five years in the Swedish gymnasium. Various kinds of tasks and different grading criteria have been used, and the practical problems of scheduling and of teacher training have been discussed. (nine…

W. Edwards Deming built a 40-year record of quality management in Japan known as Total Quality Management (TQM). His 14 points require a change in the belief system of managers and media directors, but their implementation in government agencies and schools will produce increased time for better services, better communications, and new programs.…

Attempts to improve a set of patient assault vignettes for a simulation by developing and testing a control version of the vignettes and exploring additional question and alternative scoring procedures. Influences of victim gender and assault severity are examined for 58 neuropsychiatric hospital nurses and 12 mental health experts. (SLD)

This review of the Test of Early Written Language concludes that the test succeeds in identifying students who are below their peers in writing and in measuring long-term gains in written language achievement; but its format makes it difficult to document specific strengths and weaknesses and its reliability; and validity have not been…

A new technique for evaluating postsecondary education courses and improve instruction uses directed group discussion based on formative evaluation of the course concerned. It draws on Delphi technique and nominal group process but is more easily administered and produces higher user satisfaction. Its reliability has been confirmed in educational…

Data are presented that demonstrate the reliability and construct validity of a 27-item behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS) used to rate the performance of 757 nursing assistants in South Carolina. Results support the reliability and construct validity of the BARS and the usefulness of the BARS approach for evaluation. (SLD)

This study focused on the validation of Generalizable Reasoning Skills assessment instruments with students with disabilities in secondary vocational programs. Results indicated that student self-ratings, teacher ratings, and a performance test were internally consistent and precise measures of reasoning skills for some uses but that most…

This article briefly reviews findings from more than 250 research studies on instructional leadership and productive schools and discusses development and field testing of a needs assessment instrument for assessment of the continuing education needs of principals. (IAH)

To assess the reliability and validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in a non-Western setting, the instrument was administered to 223 teachers in Jordan. Results indicate an acceptable reliability for the MBI and suggest that it has promise for use in non-Western countries. (SLD)

The Consent Screening Interview was developed to enable consumers with mental retardation to express views and preferences about community residential placements and indicate to service providers their ability to give informed consent. Analysis of content and construct validity and interrater reliability, involving 69 subjects, revealed that the…

Subscales of the Sheltered Care Environmental Scale dealing with conflict, cohesion, and independence were administered to 47 adults with moderate mental retardation on 4 occasions using either a verbal format or picture-cued format. Results indicated that the use of pictures enhanced the test-retest reliability of the instrument. (Author/JDD)

Psychometric characteristics and factorial replicability of the factor structure of the adolescent version (grades 7-12) of the Walker-McConnell Scale of Social Competence and School Adjustment were studied in an initial wave (n=266) of the national normative sample. The version studied has substantial utility in assessing adolescent social…

Researchers studied the reliability of the modified push-up test in measuring upper body strength and endurance in elementary through college students. It also examined the accuracy of partner scoring. The test proved much easier to administer than the regular floor push-up. It was valid and reliable for all students and suitable for partner…

The interrater reliability for 33 pairs of evaluators of a group assessment procedure developed from assessment center techniques was supported in 3 studies in Israel (admission to a counseling program for 109 candidates, admission of 94 candidates to teacher training, and selection of 69 candidates for Army teaching posts). (SLD)

A study compared the generalizability of 36 medical students' performance scores under systematically varied station times in 2 surgery end-of-clerkship performance-based examinations. Results indicated longer station length decreased generalizability of scores by decreasing variability among students' performances. Testing time was also affected.…