This article describes how one commercially available system, the Classroom Teacher Support System (CTSS), has been adapted to an individualized nursing program for computer assisted testing. (RAO)

This article criticizes the generally held assumption that psychological test scores are trait measures. Reasons for the continuing belief in this fallacy, as well as the social consequences of its general acceptance, are discussed. Suggestions for avoiding the test-trait fallacy are made. (EB)

Compared the WISC-R Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies of learning-disabled children and of the normative sample. It was concluded that without clinical evidence to suggest otherwise, it cannot be assumed automatically that a child's discrepancy score, unless of extreme magnitude, is related to the learning disability itself. (Author)

A professor of physical chemistry sees a sharp decline in math competence among his students and feels the reason is poor testing. How this can be changed is outlined, including a proposal to examine by computer. (Author/MSE)

Tailored testing by Cliff's method of implied orders was simulated through the use of responses gathered during conventional administration of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. Tailoring eliminated approximately half the responses with only modest decreases in score reliability. (Author/BW)

The Selected Marker Tests were examined for scoring problems and internal consistency and were administered orally to sixth and seventh graders. Scoring problems were discovered and changes were suggested. The problem was found to be item reliability rather than interrater reliability. (Author/MH)

Reviews the possible dangers of mandated competency testing and suggests some alternatives. (JM)

Minimum competency testing is not so much an educational movement as it is a power struggle. State legislatures will be the winners; teachers and poor students the losers. (Author)

A defense of testing is given. The author examines opposition to and criticism of testing, and discusses teaching to the test, effects on curricula, and test bias. (MK)

Though speaking ability receives priority in FL teaching, grades are given with little attention to it. Tests in current use are examined; a new one is proposed. The individual test is preferred to group tests. Various aspects of the individual oral test are discussed. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Ninety-two seventh grade students were assigned to three testing contingencies; no retesting, optional retesting, and mastery retesting. They were compared for achievement, anxiety and attitude. Optional retesting and mastery retesting were found better for achievement, optional retesting better for attitude, and no treatment difference related to…

Can real comparability of examination standards be attained between different boards and different years? Argues that the attempt has to be made. (Editor)

The effectiveness of various tailored testing strategies for use in objective based instructional programs was investigated. The three factors of a tailored testing strategy under study with various hypothetical distributions of abilities across two learning hierarchies were test length, mastery cutting score, and starting point. (Author/JKS)

A program designed to administer questionnaires on IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers is described. The program prompts subjects to indicate responses by clicking on a graphic line segment or entering a numeric value. The program enhances accuracy in estimating moderating effects by overcoming transcriptional errors and scale coarseness.…

A simulation study explored the effect of population distribution on maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and expected a posteriori (EAP) estimation in computerized adaptive testing based on the rating scale model of D. Andrich (1978). The choice between EAP and MLE for particular situations is discussed. (SLD)