Notes that effective measures of knowledge about mental health in later life are valuable in needs assessments and educational program evaluations. Describes development of two short, true/false quizzes, one on alcohol problems, other on depression and suicide in later life. Discusses usefulness of quizzes in planning and evaluating community…

Argues that multiple-choice tests can be effective only if the items are written in a format suitable for testing the mastery of specific instructional objectives. Proposes the use of nonrestrictive test items and cites examples of such items. (FL)

Reports on five studies on the development, conceptual validation, and behavioral validation of the Normative Message Processing Scale (NMPS). Compares the conceptual and predictive validity of the NMPS to related trait information-processing instruments. Argues for the need to develop an instrument that distinguishes between the tendency to…

Marker sets of variables to produce the Big-Five personality-factor structure were studied with over 1,000 college students completing adjective anchored bipolar rating scales or unipolar sets of adjectives. A set of 100 unipolar terms were highly robust across diverse samples of self- and peer-descriptions. (SLD)

A scheme is introduced for classifying assessment methods by using a mapping sentence and examples of three tasks from research methodology are provided along with their profiles (structures) based on the mapping sentence. An instrument to determine student assessment preferences is presented and explored. (SLD)

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,…

Thirty-six test-wise and 41 test-naive high school seniors completed a 14-item test designed to assess their abilities to apply selected test-wiseness principles. Results indicate that, before students can profitably apply test-wise skills, they must first possess knowledge about the content of the stem or options. (Author/KS)

Two item-writing rules were tested: phrasing stems as questions versus partial sentences; and using the "none-of-the-above" option instead of a specific content option. Results with 228 college students do not support the use of either stem type and provide limited evidence to caution against the "none-of-the-above" option.…

Developed Visions of Morality Scale (VMS) to be sensitive to dimensions necessary for everyday morality (empathy; prosocial inclinations; and a private, interpersonal, and social view of morality). Results from 181 high school students related VMS to empathy and political orientation. Highly significant relationships were found among morality,…

Developed and investigated measurement properties of the Children's Academic Motivation Inventory (CAMI) using 382 junior high school students. Found evidence of the psychometric integrity of the CAMI. Suggests CAMI may have some utility in future research and in interventions designed to target specific aspects of motivational difficulties of…

Developed Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory through five studies. Factor analysis yielded five factors that reflected counselor trainees' confidences in using microskills, attending to process, dealing with difficult client behaviors, behaving in culturally competent way, and being aware of one's values. Items were internally consistent and…

A group of 58 Pennsylvania workers completed the R.O.A.D. course, which involved functional context and interactive software to improve drivers' reading skills to pass the Commercial Driver's License exam. Comparison with pre- and posttest scores of 10 in a control group showed that R.O.A.D. completers had significantly higher scores. (SK)

Types of questions that will stimulate student participation in French literature classes are discussed. After a summary of ineffective approaches, factors influencing development of effective questions are assessed: preparation, reformulation, and progression. Examples are included. (Contains nine references.) (LB)

Describes development of Harassment Sensitivity Inventory (HSI), an 18-item inventory developed to assess sensitivity to the negative effects of male to female sexual and nonsexual harassment in a work setting. Discusses initial psychometric data collected with sample of managers and supervisors (n=133). Claims HSI holds promise, although further…

The Family of Origin Scale, a recently developed instrument designed to assess adults' perceptions of the family in which they were raised, was administered to 664 adolescents residing with their families. Confirmatory factor analysis supports the scale's original 13 theoretical constructs and establishes factorial validity. (SLD)