Compared to children with high-average and low-average intelligence quotients, 26 intermediate grade gifted children used fewer moves to solve a combinatorial problem-solving task and exhibited higher metacognitive knowledge on person and strategy variables. Qualitatively different intercorrelational patterns among problem-solving, metacognition,…

To determine whether or not there are systematic differences in the psychometric properties of items in the vocabulary test of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, data from test administrations from 1984 through 1988 (over 50,000 students) were analyzed. The systematic relationships between word characteristics and psychometric properties are…

The Swedish version of the Communication Strategies scale of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired was evaluated in terms of descriptive statistics, corrected item-total correlations, principal component analysis, and internal consistency reliability. The study concludes that the scale is an adequately reliable and clinically useful…

A method of comparing one-step M-estimates of location for heavy tailed distributions is proposed and investigated. Simulations indicate that the new procedure provides good control over Type I errors and has more power than do some other methods for dealing with heavy tailed distributions. (SLD)

This paper summarizes empirical findings of research on a theory of general mental ability, based on laboratory studies of the relationship between measurements of individual differences on conventional psychometric tests and in speed and efficiency of information processes. The paper covers characteristics of "g" (general mental ability),…

The Milestone Reinforcer Survey was developed to assess reinforcer preferences of adults with mild to profound retardation living in community settings. Psychometric properties of the survey were established with 120 adults. The total reinforcer scores were found to be internally consistent, consistent across raters, and stable over time.…

Thirty-five gifted elementary children were tested with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III (WISC-III) and results were compared to a previous administration of the WISC (Revised). Scores were significantly higher on all three WISC-R global scales and most subtest scaled scores. Correlation coefficients between the tests were…

This paper urges a deeper consideration of the role of psychometrically defined intelligence in the operationalization of aptitude/achievement discrepancies inherent in most definitions of learning disability. It proposes a new disability, dysrationalia, the inability to think and behave rationally despite adequate intelligence. (DB)

The Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults--Sexuality Scale was developed and used to study 86 adults with mild/moderate mental retardation. Psychometric characteristics were favorable. Differences in the rate of sexually aberrant behavior are addressed as a function of living and work placement, positive history of sexual abuse,…

Studies beliefs that psychometricians have about learning through interviews with 50 school district testing directors. Disputes about legitimate test preparation and teaching to the test are explained by differing beliefs about learning and implicit learning theories. Discusses implications for testing practices. (SLD)

The relationship between speed of information processing (SIP) and psychometric intelligence was investigated by giving 60 college students (22 males and 38 females) 2 choice reaction time (RT) tests (modified Hick paradigm) and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices. Results support an association between intelligence and SIP. (SLD)

An example of scale invariance is provided via the LISREL model that is subject only to classical normalizations and zero constraints on the parameters. Scale invariance implies that the estimated covariance matrix must satisfy certain equations, and the nature of these equations depends on the fitting function used. (TJH)

Evidence was obtained from 841 pharmacists for the convergent validity and discriminant validity of measures of career commitment, organizational commitment, career withdrawal intention, and job withdrawal intention. Results indicate the usefulness of confirmatory factor analysis as an alternative to exploratory analyses when determining the…

Describes four studies leading to development of the Perceptions of Parents (POP) measure. POP can be completed by adolescents even if they do not have contact with a parent. Psychometric properties are described. Two factors, positive affect and negative affect, emerged; scores are related to adolescents' psychological adjustment. (Author/EMK)

Discusses authentic assessment of student performance as it relates to academic improvement and educational reform. Points out that there is too much testing of basic knowledge and skills out of context, and too little teaching of complex concepts. (MMU)