Recent research demonstrates that intelligence is much more complex than can be measured by standardized tests. External sociocultural factors influence the development of intelligence, and a distinction should be made between potential for learning and actual learning. (SK)

A study compared the performance of 66 New Zealand children (ages 9-12) on a published problem-solving test and the Progressive Achievement Test (PAT). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that, independent of any chosen percentile, the PAT's accuracy at identifying mathematically gifted children was only 78%. (Contains references.)…

This study supported evidence of reliability and validity of the Theoretical Orientation Profile Scale-Revised (TOPS-R) scores. The TOPS-R was designed to measure theoretical orientation among counselors and trainees. Factor analysis yielded a 6-factor solution accounting for 87.5% of the total variance in the scale. The 6 factors corresponded to…

The concept of consequential validity wrongly links the idea of the consequences of test use with the idea of validity, widely held to be rooted in the accuracy of inferences drawn from examinees' test performances. The reification of consequential validity can distract from a needed clarity about test use consequences. (SLD)

Eight subtests were selected from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Third Edition (WISC-III) to make a short form for clinical use. Results with the 2,200 children from the WISC-III standardization sample indicated the adequate reliability and validity of the short form for clinical use. (SLD)

Evaluates the Personal Experience Inventory for convergent and predictive validity in a clinical sample of 140 youths being evaluated for drug treatment referral. Compares problem severity scales to concurrent client and parent measures of drug abuse and related psychosocial functioning at intake and one year later, to counselor intake ratings, to…

Investigates the factor structure of an intelligence scale for White, Mexican American, and African American children. Examined 4541 non-referred children and looked at verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, and freedom from distractibility. Results indicate differences in the intelligence scale's factor structure across groups, raising…

Describes the development and validation of a measure of the stress experienced by African Americans as a result of daily encounters with racism and discrimination. The scale has adequate indexes of internal consistency and fair-to-adequate estimates of test-retest stability. Several other factors also indicated the measure's reliability. (RJM)

Explores the work done in revising and field testing the Scientific Attitude Instrument and raises doubts about the instrument's validity. Discusses consideration of approaches to validity, conceptual analysis of science attitude instruments, using other studies to establish validity, and guidelines for valid instruments. Contains 12 references.…

The Defining Issues Test (DIT) of moral judgment, a stage preference approach, is compared with the Moral Judgment Test (MJT) widely used in Europe. The MJT is a stage consistency test. Construct validity is defined in terms of seven types of studies, which support use of the stage preference approach. (SLD)

Describes the methodology of an adaptation and validation of measurement instruments dealing with stress and problem-solving ability in student teachers, including the psychometric characteristics of the indicators. (EV)

Provides a critical and comparative evaluation of the five most commonly used published rating scales for the assessment of ADHD. Reviews were conducted in four main areas: content and use, standardization sample and norms, scores and interpretation, and psychometric properties. Scales with the strongest standardization samples and evidence for…

This case study was designed to demonstrate how an institution could use readily available archival data to produce a simple yet informative validity study as a necessary step in understanding the effectiveness of their selection process. Results indicated the GRE does not significantly predict graduate school success across all disciplines…

This study assessed the criterion-related validity of the PDD Behavior Inventory, a rating scale to evaluate the adaptive and maladaptive behaviors of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Good correlations with five other scales confirmed the scale's validity and suggest its value in assessing treatment-related changes in maladaptive…

Three studies with approximately 600 children were conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the three measures of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile. Findings support the use of the profile as a screening and evaluation tool for identifying children with developmental delays at 12 to 24 months of age.…