State-space representation of a problem, borrowed from mechanical problem-solving theory, is used to describe a problem's invariant structure formally. Paths within the state-space represent subjects' behaviors, as conventionally distinguished from their "protocals" or "strategies". Its goal is thus to develop the relationship…

The test-taker is viewed as a hypothesis-generating organism who can become "testwise." Testwiseness is defined as a stable skill, acquired by test-taking experiences, by which an individual can make test responses conform to a desired response pattern. (Author/MV)

Examined whether lengthy responses to the blank card reflect a contaminating factor such as glibness in creativity research. Two groups of college students completed the Remote Associates Test, Thematic Apperception Test, or Hand Test. Results suggested that blank cards among ambiguous stimuli evoke not glibness but economy of expression. (JAC)

Role reversal between parent and child was investigated in an attempt to assess responses of two samples (mothers and students) to children depicted in two hypothetical behavioral settings: a non-threatening and a danger setting. Married versus single status of the samples also was analyzed. The Adult Responses to Children's Behavior (ARCB) scale…

According to conventional wisdom, a test taker should not change his/her first response to a multiple-choice, although empirical evidence has consistently supported such changes. Quizzes for masters level students in educational measurement and evaluation showed increments due to answer changing. Low anxious students tended to make more changes…

Some encoders showed variations in feelings principally through visually mediated stimuli, others through the tone of the voice. These results are discussed in the context of quantitative versus qualitative differences among the communication channels. (Author/DEP)

Undergraduates (N=141) completed different versions of Palmore's Facts on Aging (FAQ) quizzes to test effects of "don't know" (DK) answers. Findings suggest the DK option yields more accurate knowledge scores, eliminates guessing, enhances the use of FAQ as a research instrument and for pre/post evaluation of training in aging.…

Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) responses of 36 same sex and 29 opposite sex college student twin pairs are analyzed. The results are discussed in terms of comparable genetic determination studies with Rorschach responses and the necessity for separate male and female norms on several HIT score response scales. (Author/DEP)

Spanish/English bilinguals were administered a written test that contained emic and etic questions in an attempt to explain why bilinguals provide different responses when answering in each of their two languages. Results show that social desirability accounts for the largest number of differences found. (AOS)

Two experiments are reported in which people who were merely exposed to others' responses tended not to conform to the average observed response but to exceed it, and to differentiate themselves from others toward the extreme that reflected the group ideal. (Author)

Indices that detail aspects of student test responses include overall aberrancy; tendencies to miss relatively easy items; tendencies to correctly answer more difficult items; and a combination that indicates how the latter tendencies balance each other. Mathematics test results for 368 college students illustrate the indices. (SLD)

Agencies conducting needs assessments in which respondents are asked about their awareness of the agency must be alert to a bias that inflates awareness (agency awareness acquiescence). A study with 157 college students demonstrated such awareness bias, which was related to the impression management component of social desirability. (SLD)

Current test anxiety theory suggests that achievement differences between high and low anxious students are due to differences in attention. In an attempt to investigate the interaction between various components of test anxiety, stress, and tasks measuring attentional flexibility, undergraduate students (N=45) completed Sarason's Test Anxiety…