Presents a repetition test that was found to be suited in measuring English language proficiency by German students. The construction and administration of the test are explained, and an analysis of its effectiveness is provided. (23 references) (GLR)

Describes Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and its junior versions, the High School Personality Questionnaire and the Children's Personality Questionnaire. Briefly describes development of the tests. Covers reliabilities and validities of the tests, with attention to applications in educational, clinical, and occupational settings.…

Reviewed is the research of Dr. Phyllis Rosser and the comments made by several speakers at a hearing on gender bias in testing held in October 1989. Discussed are historical perspectives, the gender gap in testing, and possible explanations for this gap. Sample test items are provided. (CW)

Investigates the validity of the Reading Anxiety Scale. Finds that (1) reading anxiety shows a stronger negative correlation with reading achievement than does general anxiety; and (2) although general anxiety and reading anxiety correlate substantially, reading anxiety measures something beyond general anxiety. (RS)

One hundred seventh and tenth grade tests across several content areas were examined for the presence of six types of test-wiseness cues. Approximately 75 percent of teacher-made and publisher-provided tests contained one or more cued items. The most frequent type of cue was length of option, followed by specific determiners. (Author/JDD)

Offers some proven design tips, tools, and criteria for fashioning assessment tasks that are more enticing, feasible, and defensible. Typical tests tend to overassess student "knowledge" and underassess student "know-how with knowledge." Test designers should create authentic simulations rich in contextual detail, devise meaningful tasks, and…

Reports research designed to develop a reliable and valid instrument to assess the relationship between locus of control of reinforcement and environmentally responsible behavior in (n=853) undergraduate students. Results suggest that the Environmental Action Internal Control Index can accurately predict environmentally responsible behavior.…

Several confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with a nationally representative sample of 11,078 subjects. Based on fit indexes, simple structure, and parsimony in parameter estimation, a three-factor hierarchical model was chosen. Two factors resemble those of P. E. Vernon (1969).…

Developed Death Anxiety Scale for Children (DASC), instrument to explore children's responses to death and dying. Constructed scale of neutral and anxiety producing words. Established validity by reading words to children and recording galvanic skin response, response time, and pulse rate. Found that children responded with greater skin resistance…

The development of an English for Academic Purposes placement test is described that aims to reflect an integrated approach to language use. It approximates natural language behavior by providing a series of tasks that each contribute to the overall context of language use. (42 references) (Author/LB)

Developed and evaluated instrument, College Student Reasons for Living Inventory (SCRLI), to assess suicidal risk in college students. First study concerned development of SCRLI; second study involved initial evaluation of CSRLI through use of correlational, confirmatory factor, and discriminant analyses. Findings suggest that the CSRLI holds…

The topic development process for the Educational Testing Service's Test of Written English (TWE) is described, along with the work of the Core Reader group and the procedures for reading and scoring the TWE. The TWE scoring guide (revised 2/90) is appended. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/LB)

Describes the development of the Ontario Assessment Instrument Pool (OAIP), a curriculum-based item bank for use in Ontario schools. The nearly $10,000,000 project, lacking implementation and evaluation activities, resulted in limited classroom use. The objective-based assessment also contradicted a child-centered educational philosophy. (KS)

Major changes in the content and format, standard-setting procedures, and score reporting policies in the National Board of Medical Examiners' comprehensive Part I examination are described. The phase-in of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and implications for score use are also discussed. (Author/MSE)

The College Entrance Examination Board has not permitted calculator use on the Scholastic Aptitude Test because of unresolved concerns about equity, implications for test content, and logistical and security issues. Those issues no longer seem insurmountable, and significant changes are being introduced on many tests. (MSE)