Test papers of seventh-grade examinees were scored using students' initial responses, then rescored using their final responses on a subtest of the Metropolitan Achievement Test. Results indicate that reliability coefficients and item discriminations are not adversely affected by examinee response changes. (Author)

What effect varying the phrasing of attitude statements would have across sex and grade was determined. Three content parallel forms were developed to assess student attitudes toward integration. Each form contained 15 items and differed only in terms of item phrasing either positive, negative or a combination of both. Six hundred and twenty-two,…

Multivariate and univariate analysis of variance indicated that students tested under a norm referenced condition earned higher achievement scores than those tested under criterion referenced conditions. A significant relationship was observed between risk-taking and achievement only under a criterion referenced condition. (Author/RC)

An empirical comparison of the validity of three Likert-type attitude scales measuring fourth to sixth grade students' attitudes toward school integration was conducted. The content-parallel forms differed only in terms of item phrasing and were composed of either all positive, all negative or a mix of items. Different factor solutions underlying…

Three rating scales--with all positive or all negative wording, or a mixture of both--were administered to 522 children in grades four through six. The results indicated that it was difficult for students to indicate agreement by disagreeing with a negative statement. This affected test validity. Author/GDC)

The initial study was based on responses of 103 examinees on an objective classroom test. Results indicated that response changes increased item difficulties as well as biserial and point biserial correlations. Test reliability was not decreased. This implies that not all students benefit from changing initial responses. The personal biserial…