Background: It is important to capture a comprehensive language profile from speakers with aphasia. One way to do this is to evaluate spoken discourse, which is language beyond a single simple clause used for a specific purpose. While the historical trend in aphasiology has been to capture performance during isolated language tasks, such as…

The questionnaires' origin (sources from which elements of the questionnaire are derived) and initial development (process of making a questionnaire from elements) should be assessed before their measurement properties. There is no Critical Appraisal Tool (CAT) that comprehensively assesses the origin and initial development of questionnaires…

This article presents the authors' response to the commentaries on their article. They focus on two important issues raised by most of the reviewers: (a) the curricular dependence of the proposed learning progression and the daunting (twin) challenges of bringing about changes in curriculum and assessment and consolidating and validating the…

A review is presented of the operations of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Overviews are provided of ACER activities and future planning in the following programs: (1) social context of education; (2) measurement and evaluation; (3) learning and teaching; (4) survey and psychometric services; (5) advisory services; and (6)…

Comprehensive developmental assessment of substance involvement is a prerequisite for conducting rigorous research designed to advance understanding of the progression of substance use behavior to a substance use disorder (SUD). At the Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, a protocol has been developed for detailed temporal assessment of…

This monograph presents the executive summaries of research syntheses developed at five special centers addressing assessment and interventions for children with attention deficit disorders (ADD). The Center at the Arkansas Children's Hospital (Roscoe A. Dykman et al.) reviewed the literature and conducted meetings on the assessment and…

Background: As patterns of morbidity and mortality are changing, more people with intellectual disabilities develop cancer or other life-limiting illness. This paper reviews the literature around the need of people with intellectual disabilities for palliative care. Methods: A range of databases and the World Wide Web were searched for relevant…

Reviews current research developments in several areas of personnel selection methodology which represent attempts to develop alternatives to traditional paper-and-pencil methods of test development. Areas examined include computer-interactive tests in employment situation, new uses for life history information, physical tests for physically…

Discussion of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) focuses on what is required to evaluate the efficacy of an ITS. Research and development aspects of ITS are examined; and seven main principles that may be used to design, plan, and implement an effective ITS evaluation are described. (Contains 40 references.) (LRW)

This paper translates research findings on systematic preference assessment with individuals with nonsymbolic or limited symbolic communication skills into guidelines for planning such assessments to reduce the risk of missing or misinterpreting the person's preferences. It offers four questions for guiding the planning of preference assessments,…

Discusses major strengths and weaknesses of career development practice. Strengths include helping individuals adapt to changing environments, a solid theoretical framework, effective assessment tools and technology, and a clear professional identity. Areas of weakness include lack of integration of contextual factors, poor communication between…

Volume Three of the Biomedical and Behavioral Research Scientists study contains five commissioned papers. The first paper, "Evaluating the National Research Service Award Program (NRSA): A Review and Recommendations for the Future," (Georgina M. Pion) reviews previous evaluation activities of the NRSA program and proposes an agenda describing the…

Examines changes which have occurred in the development and evaluation of intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), speculates on future directions, and proposes a conceptual model for the development of ITSs. Topics discussed include the effectiveness of ITSs; the need for multidisciplinary efforts; and internal and external evaluation. (Contains 78…

This article reviews recent developments in auditory processing research and considers the role of the speech-language pathologist in evaluating and treating children with suspected auditory processing problems. Particular attention is given to clinical criteria, including characteristics of the population, assessment, and intervention…

This introductory article on curriculum-based measurement (CBM) identifies the purpose of CBM, notes differences between CBM and other curriculum-based assessment approaches, and traces the history and development of CBM. The research and development program on CBM at the University of Minnesota is highlighted. (DB)