It is of crucial importance for the administrator to understand the complexity involved in managing a program of applied performance testing (APT). This paper attempts to clarify the potential and problems inherent in such an undertaking. Many citizens feel that public schools should be offering students the opportunities to acquire skills that…

Traditionally, tests in the language arts have focused on the mechanical skills of reading, writing, and spelling. The problems which have arisen because of tests which measure reading and composing ability without ever requiring the child to actually read or compose have been compounded by teachers' tendencies to turn children away from books by…

Because of student characteristics in the middle years, several types of assessment are needed. The national monitoring system being developed by the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) may prove a useful assessment framework for individual schools, providing developmental data for program comparisons and student movement between schools. (SJL)

TESTER, a computer program which produces individualized objective tests from a pool of items, is described. Available in both PL/1 and FORTRAN, TESTER may be executed either interactively or in batch. (Author/JKS)

In a survey of 51 state science supervisors, 93 percent of the supervisors who replied said that state-wide minimum-competency testing did not assess science learning. (BB)

Presents research findings on several aspects of multiple-choice testing: (1) Effect of guessing; (2) Effect of changing the initial response; (3) Effect of item order alteration; (4) Optimum number of chores; (5) Position response set; and (6) Assessment of partial knowledge. (HM)

The decline in scholastic aptitude test ( SAT) scores does not signify that the quality of education is lower. To interpret this decline requires an understanding of the testing process, changing racial and sex mix of the test makers, changing lifestyle of youth, and the increase in the number of students taking the SAT. (Author/AM)

Thirty-nine normal pre-school and 48 older mentally handicapped children of similar vocabulary age were tested on a sentence comprehension test under three different presentation conditions. Results showed that presentation conditions did not affect normal children, but mentally handicapped children were adversely affected by the condition in…

False premises upon which many legislated programs for minimal competency testing are based are identified and discussed. (JT)

Reviews norm-referenced and criterion-referenced testing. (SL)

This analysis serves mostly to point towards some possible productive research areas giving priority to areas that are more easily manageable politically. These are more commonly located within the school context. (Author/AM)

This study examined response bias in 108 female adolescents randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) interactive computer interview; (2) face-to-face interview, or (3) self-administered questionnaire. Results showed no significant group differences on reports of sexual behavior, substance use or symptomatology. (Author/BS)

Examines trends in science testing and discusses its impact on science instruction. Presents data on each state's assessment program in science for grades K-8. Identifies the type of test, grade tested, the scope and frequency, and the contact person for each of the 50 states. (ML)

Focuses on the use of computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) in psychoeducational assessment. Reviews development influences affecting the use of CBTI in psychoeducational assessment, explores the current status of CBTI systems, and advances strategies for the evaluation of CBTI products by consumers and professionals. (Author/KS)

Presents information about the kind of competency testing being done, how educators view the testing movement, and how it is affecting teacher preparation programs. (SRT)