The degree of convergent validity among four methods of identifying vocational preferences is assessed via the decision theoretic paradigm. Vocational preferences identified by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), a rating procedure, and ranking were compared with preferences identified from a policy-capturing model developed from an…

Kindergarten children (N=103) were administered three tests of visual-motor integration: Bender Gestalt Test, Beery Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration and Geometric Design subtest of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Issues discussed include interscorer reliabilities, correlations among scores, correlations…

K-ABC (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children) scores for 585 school-age children referred for psychological evaluation were factor analyzed. While it appears that the K-ABC factor structure is quite consistent for both normal and exceptional children, the meaning and names of factors found are open to interpretation. (Author/ABB)

Investigated the relaionships among the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Revised (PPVT-R) alternate forms and the relationship of each PPVT-R form with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). All correlations with both forms of the PPVT-R were significant. PPVT-R mean scores did underestimate significantly all WAIS-R mean scores.…

Applied Schmidt-Hunter interactive validity generalization procedure to validity data for cognitive abilities tests for law enforcement occupations. Results indicated apparently lower validities and lesser generalizability for job criteria possibly due to low validity of the criterion and potential role of noncognitive factors. (Author/ABB)

Examined whether popular self-report measures of depression could be distinguished from self-report measures of anxiety and social desirability response style. Correlation coefficients indicated strong relationships between measures of depression and anxiety. However, pairs of anxiety and depression measures correlated almost as strongly. All…

A paired-comparisons study of Patient Management Problem (PMP) test scores was undertaken to investigate the relationship between performance and corresponding scores (proficiency and pathway). Findings suggest that assigning points at the "option level" culminates in scores that cannot readily be linked to behavior they are supposed to…

Reports on the development of two forced-choice, self-report scales for adolescents: Pseudoautonomy and Peer-Group Dependence. Results indicated both scales were significant predictors of group membership (hospitalized or nonhospitalized); the overall classification attempt was correct 73 percent of the time; and the correlation between the scales…

Observes the increasing use of class test scores for rating teachers and reviews arguments against this practice. Cites research pointing to a variety of influences on standardized test scores other than teacher performance. Concludes that teacher evaluation must incorporate a variety of measures. (KH)

This paper updates the concept of test validity. This new conception entails a set of 10 categories combined together in pairs: curriculum and instructional validity, statutory and forensic validity, media and journalistic validity, political and legislative validity, and partisan and activist validity. (Author/DWH)

Analyzes the measurement properties of the personnel audit and the relationship of audit to organizational criteria. Nine dimensions summarize 37 audit measures, including predicting executive perceptions of organizational performance and Personnel Function, employee satisfaction, and profitability per capita. Personnel budget allotment per capita…

Logic-based measurement brings into verbal reasoning tests the inferential objectivity of numerical reasoning tests. Implications for personnel selection include performance prediction, legal defensibility of personnel selection tests, design of economical tests, and test taxonomies which sample basic inferential processes. The linkage of…

Reports on the development of a family-of-origin scale that may be used in reseach as an adjunct to therapy. The resultant scale attempts to measure self-perceived levels of health in one's family of origin. Presents data pertaining to the scale's validity, reliabilty, and normative sample. (Author/NRB)

Discusses authenticity in language testing in relation to the language proficiency movement. Looks at both sociolinguistic and psychometric principles as they are concerned with authenticity and validity as well as the inferential distance that separates face validity from techical validities. Criticizes the belief that some test type possess…

Evaluated the extent to which endorsement of irrational beliefs as measured by Jones' Irrational Beliefs Test was associated with emotional distress. Results showed beliefs relevant to stress were more associated with negative cognitions, while fear of negative evaluation was more associated with distress than were irrational beliefs. (JAC)