Heather Fearn was intrigued by the factors that might have led her higher-performing students to talk in historically mature ways about unseen sources without any prior knowledge of the topic in hand. She began to wonder if what she was hearing was not best accounted for by a content-free disciplinary aptitude, but rather that it might be the…

Houston Independent School District (HISD) District and School Profiles provides parents, staff, community members, and other interested parties summary information regarding student performance and outcomes, demographics, and school programs for each HISD school. These profiles are divided by instructional level: elementary, middle, high,…

Houston Independent School District (HISD) District and School Profiles provides parents, staff, community members, and other interested parties summary information regarding student performance and outcomes, demographics, and school programs for each HISD school covering the last five years. These profiles are divided by instructional level:…

The purpose of this ex post facto investigation was to determine the characteristics of and need for developmental education in the college applicant pool in 2006. Demographic data and COMPASS placement test results were gathered for the 1,079 applicants in 2006 who had complete records. These data were considered in the aggregate and in subsets…

Examinees who take high-stakes assessments are usually given an opportunity to repeat the test if they are unsuccessful on their initial attempt. To prevent examinees from obtaining unfair score increases by memorizing the content of specific test items, testing agencies usually assign a different test form to repeat examinees. The use of multiple…

[Slides] presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference in New York in March 2008. This presentation explores what cues are used as a deciding factor in essay scoring by the essay grader.

Presented at the Annual National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) in San Diego in April 2009. This presentation explores how the College Board strives to ensure the relevance and utility of score reporting practices and methods for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT scores. The new reporting methods allow for greater interaction and intervention at…

Results of profile analysis via multidimensional scaling (PAMS), a technique for studying the most prominent profiles in a battery of measures, are reported for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised (WAIS) and the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). PAMS profiles and the methodological features of the PAMS approach are discussed. (SLD)

Reviews 12 studies to determine whether coaching improves student performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). While results are mixed, evidence suggests that coaching does not appreciably improve students' verbal or math scores. Factors such as test reliability and weighting SAT scores with high school records should be considered. Includes…

Imposing time limits on tests can serve a range of important functions. Time limits are essential, for example, if speed of performance is an integral component of what is being measured, as would be the case when testing such skills as how quickly someone can type. Limiting testing time also helps contain expenses associated with test…

DATA COLLECTED FROM 15 YEARS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING UNDER THE APTITUDES RESEARCH PROJECT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WERE MICROFILMED OR KEYPUNCHED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO EDUCATORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHERS. EACH TEST HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED TO ABOUT 600 EXAMINEES. STUDENT HAND-WRITTEN…

Two tables are presented showing the Idaho percentile norms on Form L of the Differential Aptitude Tests administered to students in Grade 9. (CK)