Examined long-term predictive validity of Learning Disabilities Index (LDI) as it relates to achievement outcomes for learning-disabled children. Results indicated that successive LDI scores at ages 7, 10, and 13 were capable of differentiating among children who had been identified as good, moderate, and poor outcome groups at age 13. (Author/NB)

Two methods for estimating the reliability of a computerized adaptive test (CAT) without using item response theory are presented. The data consist of CAT and paper-and-pencil scores from identical or equivalent samples, and scores for all examinees on one or more covariates, using the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (TJH)

Explored validity of Superiority Scale and Goal Instability Scale in predicting levels of adjustment to academic, personal, social, and institutional demands of college life among matriculating freshman women. Freshman women completed two scales first upon arrival at college (N=178) and again near end of first semester (N=88). Results provided…

Describes a procedure for rescaling objective measures of comprehension so that they reflect amounts of accuracy of comprehension on an absolute scale. Suggests there is adequate empirical evidence supporting the validity of the rauding rescaling procedure. (RS)

A combination of high occupational score and a low men-in-general or women-in-general score on the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey is moderately predictive of interest stability and occupational consistency. (Author)

Compared relative efficacy of three drinking indices (quantity, frequency, quantity x frequency) in predicting presence of drinking problems in college students (n=55 males; 64 females). Although drinking frequency was as good a predictor as quantity x frequency for predicting such problems in males, it was best predictor of female drinking…

Predictive validity, generally taken to be the prime validity that occupationally normed interest inventories should demonstrate, is dependent on the capacity of an instrument to differentiate between occupations. A comparison of two methods of differentiation shows that a method using proportions of each occupational group to assign item-scoring…

Inconsistent item-pair Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN) and True Response Inconsistency (TRIN) scales were developed for the Jesness Inventory using 500 male and female delinquents to detect random and acquiescent sets. Specificities above 0.90 showed sensitivities up to 0.89 for VRIN and 0.85 and 0.62 for TRIN. Predictive power and overall…

Assessed the predictive validity of the Risk and Promise Profile [copyright], which identifies personal and social influences on academic persistence, with diverse sample of older college students. Hierarchical multiple regression and ANOVA indicated that the profile explains significant portions of the variance associated with academic success,…

Discusses the objectives of the study of Economics, which include anticipating future events and explaining current developments. The article points out that an acquaintance with past economic developments enhances the ability to predict the future. Research into the reasons for economic events often can uncover the multiple causes of a given…

Examines evidence presented for the validity of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) rating scales in "Foreign Language Annals" (1990), "System" (1992), and "Proficiency Guidelines" (1982, 1986). The article argues that this evidence is insufficient to support a claim for validity. (36…

This cut score modeling study investigated whether changing the cut scores of language arts performance assessments (PAs) would differentially affect subgroups of students. Based on a data set of 227,817 students, hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that no sub-groups of students were found to have a higher or lower possibility of…

This study examined the gender-related differential predictive validity of five subscales of the Institutional Integration Scale (IIS) with regard to college student withdrawal. Differential functioning of the IIS across genders was assessed using an item response theory (IRT)-based framework of differential item and test functioning. The results…

Early identification of children experiencing difficulties in learning is essential for timely and effective intervention. The aim of this study was to develop a screening instrument for identifying students with learning difficulties at the end of the first term of Primary 1 in Hong Kong. This paper describes the development and validation of a…

The effectiveness of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) in providing estimates for predicting violent and nonviolent recidivism over a 9-year period is examined. The SAQ is a quantitative risk/need instrument consisting of 72 items that compose eight subscales. There were 657 federally sentenced Canadian male offenders who completed the SAQ…