Suggestions for software design in computer managed testing (CMT) cover instructions to testees, their physical format, provision of practice items, and time limit information; test item presentation, physical format, discussion of task demands, review capabilities, and rate of presentation; pedagogically helpful utilities; typefonts; vocabulary;…

Compared items from psychologically naive vs. psychologically sophisticated item-writers vs. a standardized test (N=552). Results showed that nonpsychologists with no formal definition of the construct they were to measure were able to write items that were as valid as those elicited from psychologists. (BH)

The Auditory Comprehension Test for Sentences which examines length, vocabulary, and syntax at three levels of difficulty, was administered to 180 normal children aged 7-12 years. Preliminary standardization data indicated that the ACTS is a viable tool for assessing auditory comprehension skills of school-age children. (Author/CL)

Described the development of a scale that measures splitting as a psychological structure. The construct validity of the splitting scale is suggested by the positive relationship between splitting scores and a diagnostic measure of the narcissistic personality disorder, as well as a negative relationship between splitting scores and levels of…

Presents revisions and item analyses of the Positive Feelings Questionnaire (PFQ) from a contrasted group of l04 clinic and community couples. Results found the PFQ to be internally consistent, relatively stable over time, correlated with measures of marital interaction, and sensitive to changes during marital therapy. (LLL)

The development of the Wisconsin Behavior Rating Scale was examined and the hypothesis supported that the extensive content of the scale as well as its arrangement of items with progressive difficulty would be effective in discriminating a rather homogeneous group of individuals functioning between 0 and 4 years. (Author/CL)

Forty-four emotionally disturbed and 112 elementary school children were administered the Children's Dysfunctional Cognition Scale (CDC) for purposes of standardizing the instrument. Results indicate that the CDC is reliable and valid. The scale differentiates between normal and disturbed populations and is highly correlated with teacher's ratings…

A paradoxical phenomenon of decreases in reliability as the number of elements averaged over increases is shown to be possible in multifacet reliability procedures (intraclass correlations or generalizability coefficients). Conditions governing this phenomenon are presented along with implications and cautions. (Author)

In an earlier article, Hunt envisions the automation of intelligence testing, but he appears to be overly optimistic. He neglects to mention conceptual and practical difficulties at the interface of measurement and theory that place psychometry not in the dawn of microcomputerization, but rather more nearly in its primordium. (Author)

Argues that critical thinking and problem-solving skills do exist in primary grade students, that they can be measured, and illustrates how. (RB)

The Inpatient Scale of Minimal Functioning (ISMF)--based on revised scoring of the Social Breakdown Syndrome Gradient Index (SBSGI) item pool--is described as a means of overcoming inherent problems in the SBSGI scoring procedure. The ISMF possesses greater reliability, with an increment in concurrent validity as compared to SBSGI. (Author)

This article describes some of the programming improvements made to a computer-based instructional support system after it was operating as had been envisioned during its design. Changes were made to accommodate differences between the original objectives and what users discovered they really wished to do. (Author/BD)

The test files for 30 introductory psychology textbooks were searched for psychometric information and none was found. It is argued that publishers should include that information and suggestions are made for how and exactly what information to incorporate into test files. (ND)

Instead of shying away from problem solving items, testing specialists should devise and offer guidelines for construction and scoring problem solving items. (Editor/LBH)

This paper addresses three key topics related to making state National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments more efficient: (1) reducing the burden for the states; (2) stabilizing the assessment schedule; and (3) facilitating and promoting the use of state NAEP data. The paper recommends promoting the use of state NAEP data for…