The present paper discusses criticisms of statistical significance testing from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Statistical significance testing is greatly influenced by sample size and often results in meaningless information being over-reported. Variance-accounted-for-effect sizes are presented as an alternative to statistical…

This digest complements guidelines addressing the mechanics of online searching by considering how treating information searches as exercises in critical thinking can improve our use of online resources. It addresses the use and application of metacognition, hypothesis testing, and augmentation. Improving metacognition means improving the ability…

D. Robinson and J. Levin (1997) proposed what they called a two-step procedure for analyzing statistical data in which researchers first evaluate the probability of an observed effect statistically (i.e., statistical significance), and, if and only if, it can be concluded that the underlying finding is too improbable to be due to chance, then they…

Describing the types and uses of tests may seem to be an easy task, but it is not as straightforward as it may first appear. Tests vary on many different characteristics, are used in many different ways, cross the typical assessment categories, and in some cases are so unique as to from a category unto themselves. This chapter explores many…

Testing is one means of viewing differences among individuals. Culture is another means. When we mix testing and culture together, the results are fascinating and often confusing. Generally, we test individuals in an attempt either to serve them or reward them, and if we want to reward people, there is a strong desire and need to be fair. However,…

The inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district assessments rests on a fundamental belief: all children can learn. This belief centers on all children who receive educational services, even those whose teachers and therapists work with them at home or in the hospital. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the rationale for…

Since its inception in 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been the nation's leading indicator of what American students know and can do. The focus of this chapter is on how NAEP, as it exists today, may be useful to educators, in particular four aspects of NAEP that may be of wide interest and use. This chapter…

One role of counselors and educators is to use assessment in the service of students and clients. Under the right conditions and with proper use, using technology to foster assessment is a great way to go. This chapter focuses on the use of technology as a tool for testing and assessment. It emphasizes that to make proper use of technology tools,…

This study surveys practicing school psychologists (N=86) in both private and public sectors for their estimates of the time required to administer, score, and interpret the tests they regularly administer in their schools. It provides school districts and school psychologists with time estimates, which can be used to quantify the actual time…

The balance between conformity to state standards and creativity in providing for individual differences in the classroom is discussed. With the current emphases on accountability and standards, learning opportunities for students are supposed to be aligned with state-mandated objectives. This may lead to a situation in which rote learning,…

Psychologist Andrea diSessa coined the term "phenomenological primitives", or p-prims, to talk about nonexperts' reasoning about physical situations. P-prims are primitive in the sense that they stand without significant explanatory substructure or explanation. Examples are "Heavy objects fall faster than light objects" and "Continuing force is…

According to this study using both physiological and word recognition error criteria to ascertain students' reading frustration level, repetitions should be counted as errors to obtain authentic reading level scores on informal reading inventories. (TO)

Results are in general agreement with previous research indicating that self-monitoring can have a dramatic effect on certain behaviors. In the present study, those Ss who recorded their own frequencies of accurate responding maintained their review efforts significantly longer than Ss who did not self-monitor. (Author)

The paper summarizes the concept of discrimination underlying the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines on employment testing and the guidelines basic requirements. The desirability of applying them to age discrimination and the difficulties involved are illustrated and discussed. (Author/AG)

The Petriel Reading Comprehension Test was administered to four sixth grades. Two of the classes were not allowed to turn back after reading passages, and the test was monitored during administration. The other two classes were allowed to re-read while answering questions. Results indicate that it makes little difference whether students are…