The adverse impact of a content-valid job sample test of metal trades skills was compared to that of a well-constructed content-valid written achievement test for the same technical area. The adverse impact of the former was considerably less. Suggests that industrial psychologists should explore more fully the potential of performance testing.…

The Performance Scale of the WISC-R was administered to 59 prelingually deaf children attending a state-supported day school program. The results compare favorably with those found by Wechsler with the standardization sample. (Author)

A study of the correlation between certification test results and ratings of clinical competence for graduate medical students in internal medicine during a six-year period found strong correlations on both individual and general indicators of competence. (MSE)

Concludes that the test has a well-designed reading booklet and a carefully constructed manual, but that it has a narrow applicability. (FL)

Investigated stability of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) intelligence quotient scores of 32 exceptional students over six-year interval. Used 20 learning disabled and 12 mentally disabled students aged 6 to 16. Test-retest findings indicated median reliability value of .74. Discusses implications for clinicians and…

Responses to a sample test were simulated for examinees under free-response and multiple-choice formats. Test score sets were correlated with randomly generated sets of unit-normal measures. The extent of superiority of free response tests was sufficiently small so that other considerations might justifiably dictate format choice. (Author/DWH)

Three methods for estimating reliability are studied within the context of nonparametric item response theory. Two were proposed originally by Mokken and a third is developed in this paper. Using a Monte Carlo strategy, these three estimation methods are compared with four "classical" lower bounds to reliability. (Author/JAZ)

Describes the process used to develop two examinations, an achievement test of computer literacy and a computer anxiety index. Highlights include a definition of computer literacy, determination of the validity and reliability of the tests, and a study to evaluate the final versions of the tests. (Author/LRW)

The Self-Report Depression Questionnaire (SRDQ), a measure of depressive symptomatology in persons with mental retardation, was administered to 89 mentally retarded adults living in community-based settings. The SRDQ demonstrated high internal consistency reliability, as well as moderate stability over an 11-week period. Content validity and…

Reliability and validity of "Degrees of Reading Power" test and "Iowa Tests of Basic Skills" reading comprehension and vocabulary tests were compared. Test scores, grades, and assigned reading levels of 191 fifth and sixth graders and 186 sixth and seventh graders in an eastern Iowa school district were used. Reliability and…

Argues that the tests used to measure reading achievement do not reflect recent advances in the understanding of the reading process, and that effective instruction best can be fostered by resolving the discrepancy between what is known and what is measured. (FL)

Describes the properties of the Study Behaviors Inventory, a multiple-response instrument designed to assess college students' study behaviors. Reviews the findings of a validation study, considering reliability and psychometric test properties. Discusses the difference between study skills and behaviors and the implications of the test for…

A study of three different applications of cloze procedure to test reading comprehension in college students of German as a second language suggests that the procedure may not yield a valid or reliable assessment of global comprehension in second-language learning. (Author/MSE)

Student perceptions of teaching clarity of vocational agriculture teachers were measured by a 21-item instrument administered to 878 high school students. The face validity and reliability of the instrument were established using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and analysis of variance. (SK)

The utility of the Temperament Assessment Battery--Teacher Form (TAB) in predicting academic achievement over intervals of one to four years was studied using 117 kindergartners, 22 preschoolers, and 104 first graders. Results of the studies, each of which used data from a different standardized test to assess the validity of the TAB, support the…