Describes underlying concepts and current issues in communicative testing and illustrates application of these ideas by examining theoretical constructs, issues, and work done so far in relation to second language testing. (Author/BK)

Two pilot studies investigated the accuracy of a computer parsing system for analyzing written language of deaf children. Results of the studies showed good agreement between human and machine raters. Journal availability: Elsevier North Holland, Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017. (Author)

Describes the results of a study which analyzed first-year psychology students' attitudes to notetaking, the number of words noted, and subsequent use of notes as related to test performance. Six references are listed. (CHC)

Total scores from a series of classroom examinations compared with the order in which students completed the tests showed a relationship between completion time and test score. The first half of the students to finish scored significantly higher than the last half. (DS)

Describes a study investigating the comparative effects of objective (multiple choice and true-false) and subjective (short answer essay) quiz items on student academic performance in a personalized system of instruction course. Results showed no substantial differences between the two experimental groups. (Author/CK)

To assess the utility and reliability of Bender test recall in children, 304 children (ages 5 through 14) were individually administered the copy and recall phases using Koppitz's directions. The recall phase was judged to be of doubtful utility in assessing intellectual functioning in children. (Author/SJL)

Reviews five recent titles concerning minimum competency testing in the schools. (SJL)

Describes the development of a physiology course combining elements of instructional technology, computer assisted testing, and independent study at a college of nursing. (RAO)

Procedures are developed for testing the hypothesis that Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient is equal for two tests given to the same subjects. (Author/JKS)

The choice of a particular reading comprehension passage and testing procedure, whether in research or practice, does not allow generalization to other operational definitions of reading comprehension, suggesting serious limitations in most contemporary reading comprehension research and testing. (JD)

The article reviews a number of problems in the assessment of young children with severe handicaps and suggests a number of steps to improve the assessment process. (Author/DLS)

Generalizability theory is used to characterize and quantify expected variance in cutting scores and to compare the Nedelsky and Angoff procedures for establishing a cutting score. Results suggest that the restricted nature of the Nedelsky (inferred) probability scale may limit its applicability in certain contexts. (Author/BW)

In support of the construct validity of the revised scale, a high correlation was observed between the revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (CMAS) and the trait anxiety inventory, whereas there was no significant correlation with the state anxiety inventory. (Author)

The article discusses two subtests of the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude: the Disarranged Pictures subtest which measures visual perception, and Memory for Designs, which assesses recall and reproduction of abstract visual presentation. Diagnostic and prescriptive considerations are reviewed. (CL)

Orthogonal target analysis, a technique employed in confirmatory factor analysis, is investigated via a simulation study. The results indicate that the technique will recover the correct underlying population pattern except under very unfavorable data conditions and that a close fit to a binary target is not necessarily forced. (Author/JKS)