Some minimum competency testing programs were created chiefly as a vehicle to improve the quality of basic skills instruction. In these programs, the tests are used to define instructional targets clearly and, thereby, enhance the quality of instruction. Few testing programs have included readability levels in their test specifications. In 1979…

The construction and evaluation of the Perception of Social Closeness Scale (PSCS) is described. The PSCS, designed to measure classroom social distance, is modeled after the Classroom Social Distance Scale and is constructed in a manner to be used with classroom teachers. Following a description of the scale's development, items were selected to…

Chapter 10 of a book on school law reviews court rulings on the use of tests and testing procedures for employment purposes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 contains a section authorizing the use of any professionally developed ability test, provided that it is not designed, intended, or used to discriminate. The courts have held…

This resource guide for the use of job aids ("how-to-do-it" guidance) for activities identified in the second phase of the Instructional Systems Development Model (ISD) contains an introduction to the use of job aids, as well as descriptive authoring flowcharts for Blocks II.1 through II.4. The introduction includes definitions;…

Designed to supplement the descriptive authoring flowcharts presented in a companion volume, this manual includes specific guidance, examples, and other information referred to in the flowcharts for the implementation of the second phase of the Instructional Systems Development Model (ISD). The introductory section includes definitions;…

Due to the recent Federal redefinition of "basic skills," large scale assessments of speaking and listening proficiencies will proliferate. In planning assessment procedures, educators must be sensitive not only to psychometric validity, but also to pedagogical validity: the effects of testing on curricular content and instructional strategies.…

The development of a new instrument, the Statements About Schools Inventory (SAS) is described. The SAS measures the extent to which high schools meet the needs of their students for a safe, stable environment (security scale), for interpersonal relationships (social scale), for success and achievement (esteem scale), and for personal growth (self…

Course objectives used in Pennsylvania high school typewriting classes were used as a basis for constructing a test of typing competencies. The skills tested involved the typing of business letters, carbon memoranda manuscripts, column tables, and invoices; timed writing; English usage; and proofreading. The tests were administered to first-year…

This critical review of the literature on behavioral objectives is presented in four sections: definition of a behavioral objective; the function of a behavioral objective; consistent acceptable format for constructing behavioral objectives; and the pros and cons of behavioral objectives. The literature review reveals that current findings on the…

Data are presented evaluating the validity and reliability of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ), a self-report questionnaire designed to elicit respondents' perceptions of themselves with respect to seven personality and behavioral dispositions: hostility and aggression, dependence, self-esteem, self-adequacy, emotional…

Guidelines for evaluating criterion-referenced tests and test manuals are proposed and applied to a sample of popular commercially published tests. The well-known Test Standards published by a joint committee of professional societies is helpful, though not completely applicable, and was used together with other sources in the preparation of an…

The Alpha Omega Completed Sentence Form (AOCSF) was developed to identify and measure a person's adaptational approaches to information concerning their own death or the possible death of a significant other. In contrast to the Kubler-Ross stage theory, the adaptational approach recognizes a person's capacity to assimilate new information which…

The report presents a screening and identification model for use with primary children to identify giftedness. The procedure is designed to be objective and employs multiple selection criteria. The Bayesian approach is used as it applies a probability methodology. The steps in instrument development include, among others, a review of the relevant…

A TEST OF SCIENCE APTITUDE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE OF ITS VALIDITY OBTAINED BY INDIVIDUAL ADMINISTRATION TO 58 GIFTED, 6- AND 7-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN. TWO FORMS OF A 91-ITEM HUNTER SCIENCE APTITUDE TEST WERE CONSTRUCTED. ITEMS INCLUDED IN THESE TESTS WERE DESIGNED TO MEASURE THE ABILITY--(1) TO RECALL SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, (2) TO…

DURING THIS PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 1966, 35 FIELD CONSULTANTS COMPLETED ANALYSIS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL TRADE AND TECHNICAL CURRICULUMS. THESE ANALYSES WERE DEVELOPED INTO AN OUTLINE TO SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING ACHIEVEMENT TESTS. THE FINAL OUTLINE WAS DIVIDED INTO AS MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AS THE CONSULTANTS FELT NECESSARY…