A Spanish auditory perception test, La Prueba de Analisis Auditivo, was developed and administered to 158 Spanish-speaking Latino children, kindergarten through grade 3. Psychometric data for the test are presented, including its relationship to SOBER, a criterion-referenced Spanish reading measure. (Author/BW)

Data for four-, five-, and seven-position Likert formats from 292 undergraduates showed systematic error varied among formats, i.e., central tendency errors tended to increase with increasing number of categories and to reduce variances expected. (Author)

Three major areas (response mode, methods of presentation, and content) in which standardized assessment instruments can be modified to obtain objective information about the present abilities and/or future potential of severely handicapped students are discussed. (Author/SB)

Different experimental techniques for empirical assessment of children's linguistic ability have produced conflicting evidence. A number of such contradictions are discussed, in the context of an analysis of the potential weaknesses, and consequent requirements, of both comprehension and production tasks. (A commentary by P. L. Harris appears on…

An historical overview of inductive logic is presented, including the logic of enumerative induction in its rule-derivative and event-predictive forms. An experimental test model of event-predictive induction in the linguistic medium is discussed along with its theoretical significance for future psychometric investigations. (Author/CM)

Reports on the construction and validation of a reading attitude scale designed to measure attitudes toward academic, general, and vocational reading materials. (FL)

A test instrument for assessing the preferences medical students show for six value categories (aesthetic, economic, political, religious, social, and theoretical) was developed using a case-study approach. Validation was by comparison of medical ethics and general values in nonmedical students. Further research on the social values category is…

A logical contradiction in Bem's (1981) theory is outlined. The Bem Sex Role Inventory cannot measure a unidimensional construct, gender schema, and two independent constructs--masculinity and femininity. Such instruments measure self-images of instrumental and expressive personality traits which show little relationship to the constructs…

Spence and Helmreich discuss neither gender schema theory nor data presented as evidence for the theory. Rather, they offer yet another discussion of the Bem Sex Role Inventory and what they think it does and does not measure. Their arguments of a logical contradiction and which traits are assessed are rebutted. (Author/RD)

Basic rules of test construction are detailed to provide teachers with ways to improve the validity and reliability of teacher-made tests and worksheets. Designing the test, writing the items, and scoring the test are each discussed. The critical need for good instruments is promoted. (MP)

Two forms of an undergraduate examination were constructed. Tests varied with respect to item truth value (true, false) and method of phrasing (positive, negative). Negatively stated items were more difficult but not more discriminating than positively stated items. False items were not more difficult but were more discriminating than true items.…

Responses to the revised version of the Anticipated Task-Orientation (ATO) Scale of 261 undergraduates were factor analyzed. Items associated with communication performance and motivation were similar to those in the original ATO instrument. Items composing the self-confidence factor were loaded on the communication performance factor in the…

Ten item discrimination indices, across a variety of item analysis situations, were compared, based on the validities of tests constructed by using each of the indices to select 40 items from a 100-item pool. Item score data were generated by a computer program and included a simulation of guessing. (Author/CTM)

The measurement of psychological states requires an entirely different technology from the classical personality inventory assessments of psychological traits. Differences in the requirements of state v trait measurement are discussed. Problems of naming, labelling, describing, defining, and interpretation are discussed in relation to…

Compared principal component anlaysis with hierarchical cluster analysis of a psychodiagnostic test battery for children. Results are discussed within a multidimensional framework of cognitive abilities. The structure of the battery of tests included general intelligence, auditory and visual learning, academic achievement, and auditory…