Attempted to cross-validate the Verbal Concept Attainment Test as a measure of potential value in neuropsychological assessment and to validate a booklet form of this test. Data provided evidence of the stability of this test across samples and the booklet form appeared to be an equally valid measure. (WAS)

This review, with profiles of 51 available writing/language usage tests from most major test publishing companies, provides technical information on the tests, the evolution of test characteristics, the tests' role as writing samples, and issues in psychometric quality. Published objective writing tests are changing in important and positive ways.…

This paper reports the development and standardization of the Moral Development Scale (MDS), an individually-administered set of tasks designed to assess the overall level of moral reasoning within a Piagetian framework. Data are presented on the scale's reliability and validity as well as norms derived from the cross-validation sample. (Author/BW)

Factor analyzed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) across nine age groups in the standardization sample. When three- and four-factor analyses were performed, the familiar three-factor structure (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, and Freedom From Distractibility) was clearly visible. (Author/JAC)

In an examination of the assumptions underlying the use or banning of dictionaries in ESL testing, test questions asking about the function or effect of words and sentences in context were designed for use with the aid of dictionaries. It is concluded that the dictionary itself does not supply answers. (MSE)

Test items were developed to assess a child's understanding of certain mathematical concepts. The taxonomy and criteria for developing superitems are described in some detail. The developed items were tried out with students and data are given on test results. (MNS)

Binomial models for domain-referenced testing are compared, emphasizing the assumptions underlying the beta-binomial model. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed. A proposed item sampling model is presented which takes the effect of guessing into account. (Author/CM)

To assess the feasibility of computer-assisted Federal Aviation Administration certification examinations, a system for administering the Private Pilot Certification Examination was implemented using PLATO. Characteristics, reactions, and guidelines for use of the test are included. (Author/JJD)

Content changes to avoid sexist language were developed and the assessment instrument to measure the impact of cognitive complexity on behavior was administered with the original test in varied orders on succeeding days. The forms were found comparable and effective for use in further research. (CM)

Discusses an attempt to derive, use, and partially validate (for one area of language use) a theoretical approach to the design of language-use tests, also called "explicit direct testing." (EKN)

The Career Exploration Survey (CES) consists of seven measures of the career exploration process, three reactions, and six beliefs. Dimensionality, reliability, and validity data are presented for four studies comprising 680 observations across 601 individuals. Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting, Academy of Management, San Diego, CA, August…

Evaluates the practicability of the Singer Eyeball Estimate of Readability (SEER) techniques with 32 college students. Reveals that only two of the students met SEER's criterion for being considered acceptable judges. Concludes that the criterion is overly stringent and proposes a revised criterion designed to make the SEER technique more…

Discusses development of the American Association of Physics Teachers and National Science Teachers Association (AAPT/NSTA) high school physics examination. Includes sample examination questions and distribution of topics: mechanics (30 percent), waves/optics/sound (20 percent), heat/kinetic theory (10 percent), electricity/magnetism (25 percent),…

Many researchers, wishing to generalize to large numbers, have turned away from Piaget's measurement techniques to group paper-and-pencil tests. The psychometric properties of these tests and their statistical links with other constructs are examined, along with the relationship between the observed products of mental effort and their underlying…

Reasonable and practical solutions to two major problems confronting the developer of any test of educational achievement (what to measure and how to measure it) are proposed, defended, and defined. (Author/PN)