Reviews the decline of educational standards as reflected in national test scores and discusses four pedagogic causes for this decline: the abandonment of written tests in favor of objective, true/false testing techniques; nonpunitive grading and attendance policies; excessive use of technology in the classroom; and academic grade inflation. (JP)

A computer program for analyzing test results is presented. Item analysis and the point biserial correlation coefficient, both generated by this program, are explained and discussed. (MK)

While the practice of students evaluating their instructors has become common in many institutions of higher learning, and properly so, care should be taken that instructors who use both objective and subjective formats in their classroom testing not be disadvantaged as a result of this. (Author)

Describes an objective test used as the comprehensive examination in a graduate library school and discusses its advantages over essay tests. The topics covered include test construction, the use of item analysis for scoring and test revision, and student reactions to the objective test. (1 reference) (CLB)

A proposed model for the validity of measures of professional competence treats validation as the evaluation of inferences drawn from test scores, focusing on evaluation, generalization, and extrapolation. The model is used to indicate strengths and weaknesses of assessments of professional competence: observations of performance, simulations, and…

This paper investigated the relationship between (1) perceived responsibility for intellectual achievement, and (2) objective tests measuring convergent and divergent thinking and subjective teacher ratings and classmates' nominations, in 1,033 gifted children (age 9). The results indicate that internal control is a mediating variable in the…

The recall of information about Hepatitis B demonstrated by 180 seventh graders was tested with three test types: (1) short-answer; (2) true/false; and (3) multiple-choice. Short answer testing was the most reliable. Suggestions are made for the use of short-answer tests in evaluating student knowledge. (SLD)

Compares the use of computers with traditional paper and pencil to deliver objective tests for summative assessment with undergraduates in the United Kingdom. Considers issues of gender differences, objective testing, computer anxiety, and benefits to staff and students, and recommends the need for pre-test preparation and practice testing.…

Doing well on tests and earning good grades begin with good study habits. This digest offers a plan to help in preparing for tests. It explains how to study for and take tests. Organization, planning, and time management skills are essential to becoming a successful student. A good student reads assignments, listens during lectures, and takes good…

This paper reports on a newly designed judgmental method for setting test performance standard that: (1) overcome many of the practical and psychometric problems associated with the Angoff and Ebel methods; (2) can be used to set multiple cut points on a score scale; (3) may be readily and efficiently implemented with assessments that use…

There is increasing pressure on teachers in higher education to provide assessment systems that are fair, valid, reliable, efficient, and effective. Funding bodies, students themselves, and public opinion have higher expectations, and there is a new emphasis on competence-based systems. Growing numbers of students and financial constraints make…

A new approach to the development of the item characteristic curve (ICC), which expresses the functional relationship between the level of performance on a given task and an independent variable that is relevant to the task, is presented. The approach focuses on knowledge states, decision processes, and other circumstances underlying responses to…

Characteristics of objective measurement and how to develop an objective instrument are discussed. Objective measurement can be thought of as that type of measurement in the social sciences that parallels the measurement that takes place in science. The following are aspects of scientific measurement that should be transferred to the measurement…

Although the criterion problem has been acknowledged as critical in personnel research, few attempts have been made to systematically examine the nature and covariates of criterion measures of performance. The present research used meta-analytic techniques to examine the race effect size for objective measures of performance and to compare the…

This bulletin discusses current issues and practices in social studies assessment, ways to improve testing, and methodologies to strengthen the validity, reliability, and value of tests. The primary purpose of the bulletin is to bring the social studies profession up to date about the issues and strategies involving criterion-referenced testing.…