Use of the American College Testing (ACT) Program assessment battery for the measurement of student growth at a regional state university is described. A stratified random sample of 112 seniors at Tennessee Technological University was given the residual form of the ACT Assessment battery for comparison with their pre-college ACT test performance.…

The Department of Defense is developing norms for its Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and the newly created Interest Finder, a vocational interest inventory. The normative effort, called the 1997 Profile of American Youth (PAY97), will be undertaken as part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of…

This study explored mothers' beliefs about their children's educational and occupational futures, and it examined relationships between mothers' beliefs and children's academic achievement and between mothers' beliefs and maternal perceptions of parental responsibilities. A sample of 141 mothers and their first- or fourth-grade child participated…

An investigation was made of the use of vocational assessment instruments with students with special needs as part of the requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act. Coordinators at the 20 regional Educational Service Centers in Texas distributed surveys to personnel in each district who were responsible for vocational…

The uses of aptitude tests for entry to language training, diagnosis, placement for training, and certification are described. The Language Training Program of the Public Service Commission of Canada provides language training and testing in French and English to public servants required to use either official language. A variety of aptitude tests…

Two years of language study is a requirement in most colleges and universities for many degree programs and, at the high school level, an expectation for college-bound students. However, some very capable students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) have difficulty learning a second language. Recent research has identified characteristics of…

This review of research on Asian American performance on cognitive measures (especially in comparison with the performance of whites) covers studies of intelligence test performance, academic ability, aptitude and achievement, cognitive style, and career paths (as influenced by cognitive abilities) among young children, elementary and secondary…

Studies of sex differences in test performance have identified the content of test items, the context in which they are set, and the constructs purportedly underlying the item as important variables influencing performance. Test content often reflects experiences that traditional social roles have discouraged women from exploring. Often, the item…

The effectiveness of the simulation-gaming method of instruction as opposed to the lecture-discussion method in teaching a college introductory economics course is examined. One hundred and twenty Ashland College freshmen were tested to determine their knowledge, interest, and training in economics; retention of knowledge seven weeks after the…

The Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) is a multiple aptitude battery designed to measure junior and senior high school students' and adults' ability to learn or succeed in certain areas. The test is suitable for group administration and is primarily for use in educational and vocational counseling, although it may be used in employee selection. The…

Information was solicited through mass mailings to school districts concerning their definitions of gifted and talented, the instruments they use to identify gifted and talented students, and the underserved populations they seek to serve. This report is based on information from 542 files, representing approximately 10% of the mass mailing.…

A meta-analysis was conducted of 137 studies investigating the effects of father absence due to employment, military service, death, divorce, separation, or desertion on children's cognitive performance as assessed by scores on standardized intelligence, scholastic aptitude, and academic achievement tests and school grades. Aggregation of the…

Student market segmentation separates prospective college students into subgroups with similar characteristics, the most commonly used being geography, demography, attitudes, and behavior. Recruitment efforts can then focus on student segments similar to the present student body or on other students that might be attracted. The goal is to make…

Empirical studies are reviewed of sex bias and psychometric bias in aptitude and achievement tests. It is concluded that: (1) of four studies of sex bias, all found that the language used in the tests favored males, but, at the elementary-secondary level, sex bias has been decreasing; (2) of 15 analyses of psychometric bias, all found an…

This paper describes the approach taken in Texas to meet the requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act (CPA) of 1984 (Public Law 98-524) to provide an aptitude and interest assessment to all students with special needs who are considering entering vocational education. The Texas three-level model of assessment is discussed. The…