To address criticisms that the empirical literature on assessment of career decision making has tended to lack a theoretical base, the present study explored the relevance of a general theory of decision making to career decision making by assessing the psychometric properties of the Decision Making Inventory (DMI), designed to measure Johnson's…

This study aims to advance our understanding of the assessment of numerous factors associated with recidivism among females and males involved in the juvenile justice system. In particular, this study examined the reliability (i.e., inter-rater) and validity (i.e., construct, criterion, and predictive) of the Santa Barbara Assets and Risks…

This study addresses the prediction that dropout from a UK specialized residential treatment program for adolescent sexual abusers can be determined from pre-treatment variables. Participants were 49 adolescents aged 12-16 years, who had sexually abused children, peers/adults or both. Of the variables examined, 25 showed a significant association…

This study investigated the score exchangeability of concept maps with problem-solving essays. Of interest was whether sixth-grade students' concept maps predicted their scores on essay responses that used concept map content. Concept maps were hypothesized to be alternatives to performance assessments for content-area domain knowledge in science.…

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed 71 actuarial, behavioral, and economic models that are used for retirement forecasting, focusing on models of federal retirement program costs, civilian retirement decisions, and retirement income. GAO wished to determine to what extent the models have been documented, to what extent the models are…

The conceptual, construct, and predictive validity of available instruments for coding relational control is considered in this paper. It approaches conceptual validity by offering a logical analysis that compares each instrument with formative ideas in interactional theory. It then advances data concerning the construct and predictive validity of…

Multiple regression models are formulated which analyze the usefulness of AHPAT (Allied Health Professions Admission Test) as a predictor of success in allied health programs. Models are estimated by using data from the four baccalaureate programs in the School of Allied Health Professions at SUNY--Stony Brook. (CT/Author)

Establishes the validity of the Picture Potency Formula as a tool to predict the extent to which children will respond to pictures. (FL)

Developmental Record protocols were obtained from archival files for 1,069 institutionalized mentally retarded adults and children. Analyses revealed high internal reliabilities, but questionable validity. The Developmental Record did not adequately discriminate the five areas of functioning it purportedly assesses (self-care, perceptual-motor,…

A sequential decision-making approach based on college grade point averages and test scores for teacher licensure decisions within the conjunctive model is contrasted with the compensatory model for decision making. Criteria for choosing one model over another and a rationale for favoring the conjunctive model are provided. (TJH)

The study evaluated the predictive validity of DIAL-R, which identifies children aged 2-6 with potential learning problems or giftedness. Based on longitudinal data for 312 elementary-level children, DIAL-R scores were found to have good concurrent sensitivity and specificity but did not correspond well with subsequent special education placement.…

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and an expressive language measure were administered to 114 children (aged 24 to 74 months) suspected of developmental difficulties. The DDST did not identify the majority of children who failed the expressive language screening, even after cutoff scores were made more rigorous. (Author/JDD)

Predictive validity of preadmissions measures may be understated because of correctable defects in freshman year and cumulative high school grade point averages (GPAs). A study used item response theory (IRT) to develop a more reliable measure of performance and test it using Stanford University data. Results showed increased predictability.…

This study, involving 70 intermediate grade students, found that scores on the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form (MAT-SF) were significantly lower than all of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) composite scores. The MAT-SF correlated significantly with all areas of the CTBS composite and spelling scores. (Author/JDD)

A new statistical model based for identifying potential major donors was developed from a portion (n=53,276) of the Northwestern University (Illinois) alumni database. The model, utilizing logit analysis, found that the most critical measure was individuals' past giving records. Results indicate prospects with a low past giving level will rarely…