The Assessment of Computer Task Performance was developed to evaluate the performance of children with low vision when using sequences of actions that result in a computer command. Results with 22 students (ages 4-12) show that four standardized tasks have high reliability and one has a moderate degree of reliability. (Contains references.)…

The Collis Attitudes toward Computers Survey, developed by B. Collis (1984) for a secondary school population, was tested with 305 college students attending the University of Winnipeg (Canada). Results support the reliability and generalizability of the survey and identified one dominant factor--personal interest and enjoyment of computers. (SLD)

The agreement between visual analysis and the results of the split-middle method of trend estimation was examined using a set of 24 stimulus graphs and 30 raters. Results revealed poor agreement between the two methods, and low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive ability for visual analysis in relation to statistical inferences. (JDD)

A study of the long-term stability of Graduate Record Examination scores for graduate program admission purposes investigated the changes in scores among test repeaters. Results suggest that long-term test repeaters have greater gains on verbal than quantitative tests. Explanations and implications are considered. (MSE)

Mothers (N=120) and fathers (N=85) of young children with conduct problems completed measures of child adjustment, personal adjustment, a Life Experience Survey, and were observed with child. Teachers (N=107) completed Behar Preschool Questionnaire. Found that fathers' perceptions of children's behaviors were significantly correlated with…

Formulas are provided for estimating the reliability of a linear composite of non-equivalent subtests given the reliabilities of component subtests. The reliability of the composite is compared to that of its components. An empirical example uses data from 170 children aged 4 through 8 years performing 34 Piagetian tasks. (SLD)

Refutes MacLean's critique of two instruments: the Education Participation Scale and the Personality and Educational Environment Scale. Major arguments center on sample size, predictive validity, reliability, deficiency and growth motivation, research methodology, and inclusion of up-to-date research. (39 references) (SK)

The study of variance in observers assessing movement control in children with mild mental retardation found that observers who received informal training needed to observe twice as many trials to reach an acceptable standard of reliability compared to the observers who received competency-based training. (Author/DB)

Investigates differences in marking standard and reliability when experienced teachers carried out assessments of the performance on practical exercises. The results showed that there was no difference between the assessments from the groups containing 5 and 20 students. (Author/YP)

A 34-item instrument for assessing attitudes about merit pay for teachers was developed and administered to 237 teachers and 86 administrators. Two months later, in a replication study, the instrument was administered to 193 teachers, 107 administrators, and 135 parents. The instrument has high reliability. (SLD)

A model and computation procedure based on classical test score theory are presented for determination of a correlation coefficient corrected for attenuation due to unreliability. Delta and Monte Carlo method applications are discussed. A power analysis revealed no serious loss in efficiency resulting from correction for attentuation. (TJH)

Analysis of use of high school grade point averages (GPAs) based only on academic course grades, not on all courses taken, as predictors of freshman academic success found that while academic GPAs reflect background variables promoting success more precisely, they do not predict success significantly better statistically. (MSE)

A comparison of the holistic, error-count, and categorical methods of assessing written work presents disadvantages and advantages in terms of validity, reliability, and efficiency. The results of a pilot study indicate that the error-count method may provide the most benefits. (CB)

Reports on a review of empirical research reports submitted over the past several years to the "American Journal of Distance Education" that identified common analytic problems and errors often overlooked by distance education researchers. Topics discussed include significance testing; assessment issues, including reliability and…

A test of pharmacists' practice knowledge, for use in professional continuing education, was developed by having practitioners prepare 673 assessment items related to specific competencies. Item pool was refined by psychometric evaluation and content validation. Two parallel tests, each containing 120 items, were pilot-tested with first-year…