The relationship between variables in applied and experimental research is often investigated by the use of extreme groups. Recent analytical work has provided an extreme group procedure that is more powerful than the standard correlational approach. The present article provides procedures to optimize power and thusly resources in such studies.…

This article lists a series of ten defects that account for most of the inaccuracies in achievement tests. (Author/AM)

A few hints for teaching students the skills needed for taking standardized tests. (MM)

This paper describes the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), the educator response to it, and its effect at the district and individual levels. Questions are raised regarding the implications that implementation of present policy have for future students and teachers in California. (MT)

Contends that one basic limitation of measurement techniques is that tests cannot measure unique characteristics, but only traits common to many people. Discusses limitations regarding intelligence, interest, and personality tests and concludes that test scores give us clues to be followed rather than definite measurements. (LLL)

The study was designed to develop a greater understanding of how test preparation practices/activities have changed in a state with an established testing program that has recently begun to use test scores for school-level accountability purposes. Teachers within 24 public high schools completed a questionnaire related to the use of test…

The emergence of enhanced capabilities in computer technology coupled with the growing body of knowledge regarding item response theory has resulted in the expansion of computerized adaptive test (CAT) utilization in a variety of venues. Newcomers to the field need a more thorough understanding of item response theory (IRT) principles, their…

The methods of alpha-stratified adaptive testing and constrained adaptive testing with shadow tests are combined in this study. The advantages are twofold. First, application of the shadow test allows the researcher to implement any type of constraint on item selection in alpha-stratified adaptive testing. Second, the result yields a simple set of…

The purpose of this Monte Carlo study was to evaluate the relative accuracy of T. Warm's weighted likelihood estimate (WLE) compared to maximum likelihood estimate (MLE), expected a posteriori estimate (EAP), and maximum a posteriori estimate (MAP), using the generalized partial credit model (GPCM) and graded response model (GRM) under a variety…

A mathematical programming approach is presented for computer adaptive testing (CAT) with many constraints on the item and test attributes. Because mathematical programming problems have to be solved while the examinee waits for the next item, a fast implementation of the Branch-and-Bound algorithm is needed for this approach. Eight modifications…

Item scores that do not fit an assumed item response theory model may cause the latent trait value to be estimated inaccurately. Several person-fit statistics for detecting nonfitting score patterns for paper-and-pencil tests have been proposed. In the context of computerized adaptive tests (CAT), the use of person-fit analysis has hardly been…

Discusses the testing and research projects conducted by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey. (PG)

The implication of the study suggests that a school psychologist would be well advised to arrange the testing session well in advance of the actual test administration for young children, particularly if an assessment of intellectual capacity is planned. (Author)