Two studies compared multiple rank order and paired comparison methods in terms of psychometric characteristics and user reactions. Individual and group item responses, preference counts, and Thurstone normal transform scale values obtained by the multiple rank order method were found to be similar to those obtained by paired comparisons.…

Details an investigation of student attitudes toward confidence testing in several undergraduate speech communication courses and concludes that students feel that this form of testing provides a better estimate of their knowledge than do conventional objective tests. (MH)

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)

This paper reviews the literature of the use of frequency expressions as questionnaire anchor points. Utilizing data obtained through ratio estimation, an approximately equal interval measurement scale is developed for a five-point response category set. (Author/GK)

Examined associations of two different response sets on the Infrequent Response Index of the Strong Interest Inventory. In one, 25 participants responded to each item randomly; in the other, 25 participants deliberately misrepresented their responses. Finding scores higher than those proposed in Strong Interest Inventory manual for Infrequent…

Investigates the circumstances under which answer changing is beneficial or detrimental to test performance. Analyzes the success of answer changing in relation to the reasons offered for changing. Concludes that students who reported guessing as their reason for changing answers were not nearly as likely to benefit from changing as were students…

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.…

Subjects were given positive, negative, or neutral information concerning an attitudinal questionnaire. The positive information group obtained the lowest scores, followed by the negative information group, with the neutral information group obtaining the highest mean score. (Author/GK)

Two forms of an undergraduate examination were constructed. Tests varied with respect to item truth value (true, false) and method of phrasing (positive, negative). Negatively stated items were more difficult but not more discriminating than positively stated items. False items were not more difficult but were more discriminating than true items.…

Evaluations of experimental interventions which employ self-report measures are subject to contamination known as response-shift bias. Response-shift effects may be attenuated by substituting retrospective pretest ratings for the traditional self-report pretest ratings. This study indicated that the retrospective rating more accurately reflected…

The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Couch and Keniston Agreement Response Scale (ARS) were administered to 70 male and 72 female undergraduates. Using the ARS scores as the dependent variable in an analysis of variance, a lack of relationship was found between the BSRI and acquiescence. (Author/JKS)

Finds support for the hypothesis that individuals who prefer a visualization strategy will obtain higher scores on the "Mental Rotation Test" than individuals who prefer an orientation strategy. (RL)

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)