Summarizes some prevailing policies and practices important to the assessment of mental retardation in Australia, France, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Discusses international standards for diagnosis and classification of mental disorders and cross-national similarities and differences. Also discusses implications for test development. (SLD)

The assessment of students' counseling needs is an integral component of development and implementation of an effective school counseling program is widely recognized. Unfortunately, this mandate has been hindered by lack of a psychometrically sound measure of students; counseling needs. This article describes the Intermediate Elementary Students…

Confirmatory factor analysis results for the measures of interpersonal power developed by T. R. Hinkin and C. A. Schriesheim (1989) are reported. A five-factor oblique model provided the best fit to the data in independent samples of 480 and 241 adults. Factor pattern coefficients are discussed. (SLD)

This special issue is devoted to current developments in multidimensional item response theory (MIRT). The six papers included in this issue (and two for the March issue) present applications of MIRT to practical testing problems and demonstrate innovative MIRT techniques for assessment. (SLD)

The development and scoring of a recently introduced computer-based writing skills test is described. The test asks the examinee to edit a writing passage presented on a computer screen. Scoring difficulties are addressed through the combined use of option weighting and the sequential probability ratio test. (SLD)

Outlines a series of security steps that might be taken by researchers or organizations that are contemplating Web-based tests and performance assessments. Focuses on what can be done to avoid the loss, compromising, or modification of data collected by or stored through the Internet. (SLD)

Provides advice on implementing performance assessment in the classroom. Outlines the basic steps from defining the purpose of the assessment to giving the student feedback. Advice is also given about scoring rubrics. (SLD)

Developed a model for the concurrent development of assessments in two language versions and tested the model with classes of seven bilingual teachers who developed the assessments in English and Spanish. Results show that the model allows assessment developers to give deeper consideration to culture in test development. (SLD)

Describes the development and validation of the Standards Performance Continuum (SPC) for assessing teacher performance of the Standards for Effective Pedagogy. Three studies involving Florida, California, and New Mexico public school teachers provided evidence of inter-rater reliability, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity…

Studied the relationship between test mode (paper and pencil or computerized with and without editorial control) and computer familiarity for 222 undergraduates. Results emphasize the importance of evaluating time constraints when converting exams from paper to computer delivery. (SLD)

This paper reviews the literature on consumer involvement in dental quality assessment, argues for inclusion of this information in quality assessment measures, outlines a conceptual model for measuring dental consumer quality assessment, and presents data relating to the development and validation of an instrument based on the conceptual model.…

From their experience with open-ended tests requiring higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities, schoolchildren in the USSR learn to think before answering. U.S. students instead train for rapid response, learning how to take tests rather than how to solve problems. Tests should be part of the curriculum, not separate from it. (MLH)

Describes the development of the Aging, Learning, and Work Quiz, a 40-item, true-false self-assessment inventory about changes in learning and work behavior brought about by aging. The quiz has six categories: biology, psychology, learning, decision making, work performance, and health. The quiz and 73 references are provided. (SK)

Provides present stages of development and preliminary validation of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), a self-report instrument for measuring the quality of alliance. Results from three studies were used to investigate instrument's reliability and validity and the relations among the WAI scales. Data show that WAI is reliably correlated with a…

Argues that teachers should look at standardized tests first before designing tests that will evaluate students' critical thinking and reading. Describes five standardized tests appropriate for use with college students and adults. (RS)