The purpose of "Focus" is to provide coverage of poverty-related research, events, and issues, and to acquaint a large audience with the work of the Institute for Research on Poverty by means of short essays on selected pieces of research. This issue contains the following articles: (1) Progress toward Improving the U.S. Poverty Measure:…

This document describes the breadth of the research that the ETS (Educational Testing Service) Research & Development division is conducting in 2010. This portfolio will be updated in early 2011 to reflect changes to existing projects and new projects that were added after this document was completed. The research described in this portfolio falls…

Some of the test questions for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards deal with the site, including drainage, regrading, and the like. Some questions are most easily scored by examining contours, but others, such as water flow questions, are best scored from a grid in which each element is assigned its average elevation. This…

Loglinear and logit models that have been suggested for studying differential item functioning (DIF) are reviewed, and loglinear formulations of the logit models are given. A polynomial loglinear model for assessing DIF is introduced that incorporates scores on the matching variable and item responses. The polynomial loglinear model contains far…

Item and test analyses can be used to revise and improve both test items and the test as a whole. Recommendations for item and test analysis practices as they are reported in commonly used measurement textbooks are summarized. A heuristic data set is used to illustrate test and item analysis practices. Techniques developed in this paper are…

Six methods for assembling tests from a pool with an item-set structure are presented. All methods are computational and based on the technique of mixed integer programming. The methods are evaluated using such criteria as the feasibility of their linear programming problems and their expected solution times. The methods are illustrated for two…

This report describes a follow-up project based on prior research which demonstrated a possible link between post-funeral rituals and grief work. It notes that, while the degree of association between rituals and grief work was marginally statistically significant, the degree to which ritual directly influences "successful" grief work…

The concept outlines included in this study guide were used as the basis for development of examinations for Academic Decathlon programs at the local, state and national levels. The subject areas covered are: Economics; Fine Arts (Visual Art, Music); Language and Literature; Mathematics (General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus); Science; Social…

The problems of constructing a suitable test to yield a mathematical profile of 11-year-old students are discussed. (DT)

The NFER has devised a set of English proficiency tests suitable for immigrant junior-school children. What do these tests reveal about the levels of linguistic skill found in different immigrant groups? (Editor)

Neuropsychology combines psychometrics and the study of brain processes. There are two approaches to neuropsychology. The neurologic approach uses brief tests flexibly. The psychometric approach uses standardized graded scales in a set battery. Cortical testing in the form of intellectual abilities testing is 70 years old, yet psychometric…