Developed a valid, reliable physical education teachers' physical activity self-efficacy scale for teaching classes in which students were engaged in high levels of physical activity. Results offer preliminary support for the psychometric properties of this instrument, which can help understand physical education teachers' efficacy in overcoming…

This paper describes the Hong Kong development of the Student Adjustment Problems Inventory, a 32-item measure that identifies problems of gifted secondary students in six domains: relationship/ability concerns, unchallenging schoolwork, intense involvement, concerns about being different, parental expectations, and perfectionism. Students'…

Examines differences between old state-designed norm-referenced tests and new tests aligned with the curriculum. Concludes that new state tests are very similar to old ones. Discusses impact of new high-stakes standardized tests on students and teachers. Argues the new wave of standardized testing is not the answer to improving student…

Compares video and audio stimuli for listening assessment as well as multiple choice and constructed response modes, using modifications of the ACT Work Keys Listening and Writing assessment and the ACT Work Keys Listening for Understanding prototype. Confirms that examinees do less well on constructed response than on multiple choice responses.…

Mixed integer linear programing models for customizing two-stage tests are presented. Model constraints are imposed with respect to test composition, administration time, inter-item dependencies, and other practical considerations. The models can be modified for use in the construction of multistage tests. (Author/TJH)

Performance on items in intelligence and achievement tests can be represented in terms of child development and information processes. Research is reviewed on item performance that supports developmental and information processing effects, particularly in children. Some suggestions regarding item development are made. (Author/TJH)

Describes the development of an "attitude to industry" scale assessing the attitudes of students undertaking "A" level science studies with varying amounts of industrial material in their syllabuses. Provides the interview schedule, factor loadings, reliability coefficients for three sub-scales, and statements of final scale.…

Uses data from 991 Mexican-Americans in six states to develop a nine-item acculturation measure based on respondent's language and self-definition as insider or outsider. Describes factor structure and construct validity. Contains 28 references. (SV)

The Communicative Use of English as a Foreign Language (CUEFL) examination applies to language testing the principles of the communicative approach to language teaching. The issues and problems of composing the reading part of the CUEFL are discussed. (Author/VWL)

This instructional module presents and illustrates rules for designing performance assessments in a step-by-step strategy through: (1) reason for the assessment; (2) type of performance evaluated; (3) exercises to elicit performance; and (4) systematic rating procedures. Guidelines for maximizing reliability, validity, and economy are presented.…

Developed Hospice Caregiver Assessment Inventory to identify problems of those caring for dying patients, and Caregiver Intervention Plan. Analysis of 24 inventories and assessment plans identified problems of caregivers of dying older people. Results suggest that caregivers often need counseling assistance prior to death of patient, as well as…

Instead of being devices for measuring what students have learned, tests should be instructional--the central vehicle for clarifying and setting intellectual standards. To regain control over testing and instruction, schools need to rethink their diploma requirements and grading systems. Then school transcripts will become trustworthy again.…

Discusses the development, administration, and evaluation of the Test of Metalinguistic Ability (TAM). Developed at the University of Rome, the TAM consists of 96 items divided into 6 parts: comprehension, synonyms, acceptability, ambiguity, grammatical function, and phonemic segmentation. (CFM)

Two studies involving 725 elementary school students describe the development and preliminary validation of a measure of children's life satisfaction, the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale. For the most part, the measure's subscales correlate as expected with various criterion measures. The instrument appears useful for research…

Two-option multiple-choice vocabulary test items are compared with comparably written true-false test items. Results from a study with 111 high school students suggest that multiple-choice items provide a significantly more reliable measure than the true-false format. (SLD)