Discusses the development of the Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs-Preliminary 2 (MCSA-P2) Scale, an assessment tool to measure multicultural competence in a higher education context. Reports the results of two studies that investigated the validity and reliability of the MCSA-P2. Explores future research needs as well as applications…

A study involving 99 parents, researchers, residential workers, speech pathologists, and special education teachers revealed a high level of support for the Biala-II, a profile that uses the knowledge of informants who are able to provide specific information on the ways in which a person with mental retardation communicates. (Contains…

This article argues that creativity tests are best thought of as measures of creative potential because creative achievement depends on additional factors not measured by creativity tests, such as technical skill, field knowledge, mental health, and opportunity. The need for assessment to be based on several tests is emphasized. (Contains…

Examines the reliability and validity of the scores of the Assessment of Academic Self-Concept and Motivation Scale (AASCM), a new instrument developed according to motivational systems theory. The AASCM was administered to African American, European American, and Hispanic participants (N=492). Presents evidence of the measurement's strong…

The Leadership Attitudes and Beliefs Scale was studied in 65 males and 111 females between 19 and 22 years old. Results supported the convergent and discriminantive validity of the Systemic Thinking scale and the divergent and discriminantive validity of the Hierarchical Thinking scale. (Contains 61 references and 2 tables.) (GCP)

Voice range profiles (VRP) were analyzed according to 11 frequency, intensity, and morphological characteristics for 94 typical children and 136 children with vocal fold pathologies (ages 6-11). Normative data are presented showing marked differences between the groups. The use of the VRP Index for Children for screening is discussed. (Author/CR)

Investigates the validity of the Roberts Apperception Test for Children (RATC) by examining the appropriateness of the standardization norms with other nonclinical samples. Findings suggest that the children in this study form a separate and distinct group from the well-adjusted children upon which the RATC scales were normed and supports previous…

The Northwest Evaluation Association, serving over 300 U.S. school districts, is developing an Internet-enabled assessment system that adapts questions to each student's performance. Shorter, adaptive tests help students avoid frustrations or boredom caused by too-difficult or -easy questions. Scores are as valid as traditional test scores. (MLH)

Investigates the academic-subject-matter domain specificity of self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectations, and goals. Results indicate that a factor solution that accommodates both distinct subject matters and distinct constructs supports the existence of the constructs of academic self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectancies, and goals that…

Study conducts confirmatory factor, reliability, and correlational analyses of scores on the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS). Analyses revealed evidence of reliability, a four-factor structure (Parent, Teacher, Classmate, and Close Friend subscales), and construct validity. There is evidence that the CASSS can be used to…

Reviews the D48, a nonverbal analogies test used as a measure of general intelligence. Results of a study with 126 Mexican American and 139 Anglo American 7th graders show the D48 to be reliable, free of slope or intercept bias, a valid indicator of performance on Stanford Achievement subtests, and significantly correlated with both achievement…

Discusses the need for child care quality assessment by regulatory agencies, researchers, and parents. Examines the usefulness of telephone interviews for assessing child care quality, focusing on research usage, the inclusion of family child care, and generating items for telephone interviews. (Author/KB)

The validity of the Fundacion MacArthur Inventaria de Habilidades Communicativas: Palabras y Enuciados was examined with twenty 20- and nineteen 28-month-old, typically developing, monolingual, Spanish-speaking children in Mexico. Results indicated validity for assessing expressive vocabulary in 20-month-olds and expressive vocabulary and grammar…

Three studies are reported addressing the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-Second Edition (BERS-2): Parent Rating Scale (PRS). In the first study, test-retest reliability was investigated over a one-week period to determine the stability of the BERS-2 PRS over time. Reliability…

Back-translation is typically used to verify semantic equivalence (SE) of a translated measure to the original scale. Although validity of the adapted scale depends fundamentally on SE, back-translation always involves subjective evaluations. This study developed "dual-language, split-half quantitative methods of verification to supplement…