Two IRT-based procedures to estimate test reliability for a certification exam that used both adaptive (via a MST model) and non-adaptive design were considered in this study. Both procedures rely on calibrated item parameters to estimate error variance. In terms of score variance, one procedure (Method 1) uses the empirical ability distribution…

The effects of distributed study, self-pacing, a criterion of mastery, and individualized testing were examined by assigning 422 students in an introductory psychology course to one of four different teaching/learning systems. The first encompassed a traditional lecture/discussion group format. The second employed the personalized system of…

A new, more specific language for describing work activities, based upon the duty module (clusters of tasks that tend to go together occupationally and organizationally in meaningful ways) is being designed for the Army. The purpose is to improve communications between resource and requirement planners and program operators. The paper proposes two…

Prevalence rates of cognitive impairment in persons 75 to 85 years of age have been documented in the range of 10-15%, and exceeding 20% after age 85. A recent study has demonstrated even higher prevalence rates: 18.7% between the ages of 75-84 and 47% in persons over 85 years of age. Screening for dementia in persons 75 years of age and older…

A broad scientific perspective that recognizes the child's social environment is needed in school psychology practice. The chances of influencing change expand when psychologists switch from an intrapsychic model to a social systems (group process) framework for testing referrals. Intrapsychic explanations create a mechanism for educators to avoid…

A method for measuring recognition memory (free of distractors) and false recognition was based on the assumption that the subject was "honest." A distractor-free test of word recognition (a single-item test trial in which the 36 targets were presented prior to the 36 distractors) was compared with a traditional target-distractor…

In the specific methods of standard setting in testing, judgments about individuals being tested, contrasting groups being tested, and judgments about the test items are discussed. In judgments about individual test-takers, assumptions are presented based on the knowledge and skills the test is intended to measure, the test-takers' skills at the…

Results are reported of a study designed to: (1) investigate the range of types of reasoning exhibited by ninth- and tenth-grade science and mathematics students (N=69) within 2B and 3A stages as classified by three Inhelder tasks; (2) explore the feasibility of subdividing types of responses into bands within each stage; (3) provide descriptive…

The difficulties in comparing profile variability (a measure of test scatter) are briefly discussed and the limitations of current techniques pointed out. Test scatter is defined as individual variation in test scores between or within various psychological and educational tests. Currently, no statistical technique for the comparison of profile…

This paper reports on two studies that were designed to provide preliminary data on the psychometric properties of a new matrix test of referential communication and to explore the validity of the test as a predictor of both developmental level and socioemotional adjustment of normal and emotionally disturbed children. Referential communication is…

Coventional true score approaches to criterion-referenced tests are not applicable when tests are used for classification. Criterion-referenced testing is now used frequently for educational decision making. The assumption is made that these instruments are to be considered as tests designed to classify into "mastery" and "non-mastery" groups,…

Reasons why there are few incentives for test publishers to make significant innovations in what is tested or how it is tested are given. A brief discussion of research on growth spurts in the brain, hemispheric differences, and other neurological phenomena is followed by a discussion of some conclusions drawn from this work. While skepticism is…

A study was conducted to determine whether informal group assessment instruments could be used effectively to provide the same type of reading achievement information as that secured from informal individual instruments. The researchers developed group instruments comparable to individual instruments, including a group reading inventory for grades…

This paper describes an assessment of community college student knowledge in the liberal arts at two-year colleges in Southern California. A survey instrument with multiple choice questions covering five liberal arts subject areas was distributed to 4,200 students in randomly selected classes at ten colleges. More than 2,500 questionnaires were…

A method for obtaining curriculum-based estimates of student achievement is described. These estimates can be obtained through the use of a set of curriculum weights designed to reflect student opportunity to learn. If the match between the presented curriculum and test content is low, then the curriculum weights can be used to minimize potential…