Discusses new ideas on the definition of intellectual abilities and how they can be measured. Examines issues of generality of both conventional tests and new tests in the measurement of intelligence. Also addresses the teaching of intelligence and the future prospective of research and development of the technology of testing. (MMU)

This study examines selected psychometric characteristics of Bandura's Multidimensional Scales of Perceived Self-Efficacy, including reliability and factor structure. First- and second-order factor structures are presented. Interrelationships among the factors and relationship of factor solutions and subscales are discussed. Implications of the…

Summarizes conceptualizations of sound teacher certification practices espoused by the courts and psychometricians, compares these conceptualizations, and provides suggestions for teacher certification testing programs that are legally and psychometrically defensible. (SLD)

Discusses the issues surrounding the right to use psychological tests. Examines the American Psychological Association's efforts to restrict test access, the likely impact of restricting use, and the mission of the Fair Access Coalition on Testing, which is devoted to allowing all appropriately trained professionals access to such tests. (RJM)

Data from a previous adoption study using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised show that the genetic effect is reflected by psychometric "g" (general intelligence) to a greater degree than is the environmental effect. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that "g" largely reflects the genetic component…

The history of generalizability theory (G theory) is told from the perspective of one researcher's experiences, describing psychometric and scientific perspectives that influenced the development of G theory and its adoption. Work that remains to be done in the field is outlined. (SLD)

The historic origins of measurement are traced, and the basic requirements for fundamental measurement are outlined. Studying the history of social science measurement shows specific pitfalls the researcher must avoid. Applications of item response theory to social science measurement are discussed. (SLD)

Two psychometric tests measuring mental rotation (MR) and visualization (VZ) were administered to 209 male and 390 female high school seniors. Results clearly indicate that MR is a plausible mediator variable for sex differences in VZ when such differences do exist. Theoretical, methodological, and practical consequences of these results are…

The Missouri Occupational Card Sort (MOCS) and the Self-Directed Search were completed by 298 college students and 97 Upward Bound students. MOCS demonstrated adequate reliability. Holland's hexagonal model did not serve as an adequate factor structure for MOCS. Participants favored the MOCS. (SK)

This study examined the test-retest reliability of SCAN, a popular screening test for determining the possible presence of a central auditory processing disorder in children. Testing and retesting using a six- to seven-week interval with 25 first-grade and 22 third-grade children found significant improvement from test to retest for both grades.…

Results of the Need for Cognition Scale for 40 older adults indicated that their levels of need were related to their performance on Piagetian tasks. Intelligence thus appears determined by attitudes as well as ability. Motivation, need, and intellectual preferences, rather than aging, may contribute to perceived decline in intellectual skills.…

Analysis of scores of 180 college students on the short form of the Career Decision Making Self Efficacy Scale suggests that the short form possesses psychometric characteristics comparable to or better than the long form. Short form subscales are sufficiently reliable, and concurrent validity correlations are largely better, with only half the…

The history, development, and empirical foundations of the Career Decision Scale are reviewed. Its uses in program planning and with special populations, as well as gender and cross-cultural issues, are discussed. Controversies over the factor structure are addressed. (SK)

Proposes a methodology and describes a test battery that synthesizes the psychometric strengths of maximal performance tests and the engagingness of typical-performance tests. Results with 31 adults show that the test measures the same abilities tapped by conventional cognitive tests but is viewed by examinees as less stressful, more interesting,…

Attempted to improve the measurement quality of a complex performance assessment through principled assessment design using the example of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Early Childhood/Generalist examination. All indexes examined improved after revisions were made. Results show the importance of attention to assessment…