Editorial practices revolving around tests of statistical significance are explored. The logic of statistical significance testing is presented in an accessible manner--many people who use statistical tests might not place such a premium on them if they knew what the tests really do, and what they do not do. The etiology of decades of misuse of…

The use of directional and nondirectional hypothesis testing was examined from the perspectives of textbooks, journal articles, and members of editorial boards. Three widely used statistical texts were reviewed in terms of how directional and nondirectional tests of significance were presented. Texts reviewed were written by: (1) D. E. Hinkle, W.…

The Assessment Clearinghouse of the Memphis (Tennessee) City Public Schools is a collection of performance-based instructional tasks that have been designed to address specific content standards at specific grade levels. The tasks consist of a complete set of instructional and assessment activities for immediate classroom use. They also provide a…

Basic principles underlying statistical power are examined; and issues pertaining to effect size, sample size, error variance, and significance level are highlighted via the use of specific hypothetical examples. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and related methods remain popular, although other procedures sometimes have more statistical power against…

The development of procedures by which test publishers can screen individual purchasers to minimize the possibility of test misuse is described. The Test User Qualifications Working Group (TUQWoG), an outgrowth of the Joint Committee on Testing Practices, was formed to address the prevention of test misuse through improved methods of screening…

The 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), which is reviewed historically in this essay, represents a unique and significant chapter in the history of personality assessment. During the first 20 years of its existence, the 16PF underwent numerous revisions and restandardizations. During that period, R. B. Cattell, the creator of the 16PF,…

The booklet was designed to help each recipient of the California Achievement Test (CAT) reports to understand the general format of the reports, the abbreviations and symbols used, and the types of scores presented. It was also intended to assist in interpreting CAT results and using these results at each level of the educational process to best…

After a brief introduction and discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires, this publication explains how to develop a questionnaire. Each of the five parts of a questionnaire (heading, procedural statements, items, comment space, and procedures for return) are discussed, with concrete examples. Guidelines for pre-test/tryout…

Psychological testing has played a major role in the American Psychological Association (APA) because testing and assessment are important aspects of what psychologists do; tests assist psychologists in diagnosis and treatment. From its earliest years, APA has had one or more committees concerned with testing. The present Committee on…

The theory and purpose underlying R. Feuerstein's Learning Potential Assessment Device (LPAD) is reviewed, and implications for deaf education considered. It is argued that LPAD use will enhance: (1) assessment of deaf children from non-standard American backgrounds; (2) incorporation of assessment results into educational programming; and (3) the…

Data describing a student's present skill levels are often difficult for all members of a Child Study Team (CST) to understand, and these data often do not readily lend themselves to developing specific goals and objectives for an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The Brigance Diagnostic Inventories (the Inventory of Early Development, the…

Describes the interest and concern of the membership of the Personnel Testing Council of Southern California in what may be the most critical issue in personnel testing today--the implications of using or not using g-loaded tests. Describes the events that led to the scheduling of a major conference on the g factor. Also describes audience…

The Client Verbal Response Category System classifies client responses into Temporal, Directional and Experiential categories. The categories with their subcategories are defined, interjudge reliability data is presented, and the instrument's utility in psychotherapy process research is demonstrated. Initial results indicate that the instrument is…

Reports the reliability and concurrent validity of both the trait and state forms of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) with a high school population, age range of 14-16 years and educational range of 9th and 10th grades (N=403). Findings indicate the MAACL is sufficiently reliable and valid to warrant additional use with an…

Three hundred eighty-two special education teachers (N=382) listed published tests useful in making diagnostic and placement decisions. Perceived usefulness of many tests varied as a function of exceptionality and geographical region. Those tests most frequently listed were not necessarily the most psychometrically sound, but tended to be…