Educators have a need for a procedure to generate alternate forms of tests. The reliability of alternate forms generated from a table of specifications is examined, using 78 high school remedial mathematics students as subjects. (Editor)

In taking standardized tests, children are placed in a position over which they have no control, are directed to perform illogical tasks, and are told to act as if everything were perfectly logical. It is hard to overstate the negative impact of testing on young children. (Author/MJB)

Everett Shostrom's Personal Orientation Inventory is a significant and widely used contribution to humanistic psychology and personality assessment. W. S. Zimmerman (1969) evaluated the POI and his observations led to the development of a complementary form, the POD (Personal Orientation Dimensions) and to a new test, the DOSAB (Dimensions of…

A method for the construction of scales which combines the rational (or intuitive) approach with an empirical (item analysis) approach is presented. A step-by-step procedure is provided. (Author/JKS)

"Content validity" has been widely but unwisely hailed as a solution to many problems in employee selection. The author argues that sampling from content domains cannot logically be substituted for criterion related validity. He suggests that evaluations of scores be based on the principle of construct validation. (Editor/RK)

Urges teachers to set up a program for testing writing which uses holistic scoring. (DD)

Argues against one-dimensional testing procedure and discusses how tests are constructed with the accent on the effects of normative testing. Presents a method by which information from student testing could be used for the improvement of teaching. (RK)

This paper reports the initial development of the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (B.S.Q.) for determining temperamental characteristics in 3-to 7-year-old children. (CM)

After analyzing four methods of selecting distractor items for multiple-choice tests, the authors recommend that classroom teachers use their own judgment in choosing test items. (Ed.)

Two procedures for Rasch, sample-free item calibration are reviewed and compared for accuracy. The theoretically ideal "conditional" procedure is impractical for more than fifteen items. The more practical but biased "unconditional" procedure is discussed in detail. (Author/JKS)

Testing techniques that can be used in introductory geography courses are evaluated. A modification of multiple-choice tests is described which incorporates both objective and subjective formats: a student selects a multiple-choice answer, writes down his reasons for the selection, and is graded on both parts of his answer. (Author/ND)

Factor analytic convergence of Wiggin's MMPI content scales and the author's unpublished Differential Personality Inventory (DPI) were studied. A varimax rotation yielded seven dimensions: health problems; interpersonal conflict; impulse expression vs. religiosity; denial; depressed withdrawal; cognitive dysfunction; and familial problems. Results…

Presents six questions and answers in the field of environmental chemistry. (SL)

Experience with pretests at Wright State University School of Medicine indicates that they serve as a preinstructional strategy that increases motivation, enthusiasm, and acceptance of the program. Pretests possibly enhance cognitive learning during the ensuing program, as well as improve the attitudinal set. (Author/LBH)

Offers information and suggestions for constructing and using essay questions for assessing inquiry learning. (Author/RK)