Early identification of social-emotional behavioral problems in infants and preschoolers is critical. Nine parent-report and caregiver/teacher-report instruments measuring preschool social-emotional behavioral problems and strengths are reviewed. Advantages to the use of parent-report and caregiver/teacher-report instruments are that they are easy…

Issues pertaining to the quality of performance assessments, including reliability and validity, are discussed. The relatively limited generalizability of performance across tasks is indicative of the care needed to evaluate performance assessments. Quality control is an empirical matter when measurement is intended to inform public policy. (SLD)

The reliability and validity of the Novaco Anger Scale (NAS) (R. Novaco, 1994) were studied with 204 male correctional offenders admitted for general or violent offenses. Results show the NAS to be an effective measure of anger in an offender population. Results also support the validity of a computerized version of the NAS. (SLD)

This article presents arguments that the correlation measure "r" of halo is not conceptually more appropriate than the standard deviation (SD) measure. It also describes conditions under which halo effects occur and when the SD and r measures can be used. Neither measure is uniformly superior to the other. (SLD)

This overview of the role of error and tolerance for error in measurement asserts that the generic precision associated with a measurement procedure is defined as the root mean square error, or standard error, in some relevant population. This view of precision is explored in several applications of measurement. (SLD)

This study was conducted to evaluate whether the adjectival self-description checklist may provide a viable method of quickly obtaining initial personality type information. The Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire (PPDSQ) was administered to more than 420 college students, and data were analyzed using classical reliability analysis…

Describes an investigation designed specifically to study attitudes affecting participating employer receptivity toward the concept of cooperative education. Discusses generation of the instrument and data collection, sample selection, instrument validity and reliability, data analysis, implications of the study, and recommendations. (CT)

Eleven leadership measures for children, youth, and adults are reviewed in the context of current leadership theories and psychometric standards for test use. Measures for assessing leadership among children are considered inadequately normed and lacking in reliability and validity data, but leadership measures for adults are seen as more…

Discusses some problems, pitfalls, and paradoxes that challenge measurement theory and practice, especially for K-12 achievement testing. Considers a number of technical issues, especially some related to reliability. Also discusses a number of practical or political issues related to validation and accountability. (SLD)

Some 1,620 Australian high school students responded to 68 items that measure adolescent stressors. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop and test a model leading to the High School Stressors Scale. This scale, which has sound construct and predictive validity and adequate reliability, can be a useful instrument for studying…

The five chapters of this report provide resources that deal with the validity, generalizability, comparability, performance standards, and fairness, equity, and bias of performance assessments. The book is written for experienced educational measurement practitioners, although an extensive familiarity with performance assessment is not required.…

Developments in the measurement and theory of creativity are reviewed, and the present status of creativity vis-a-vis psychometrics and theory is explored. The realm of creativity has been a quagmire of definition problems, with creativity variously defined in terms of process or stages. In past eras, creativity was essentially measured by output…

Investigates the reliability of the Instructional Activity Questionnaire, Form 3, Revised, in measuring instructional leadership behaviors of special education supervisors, using a sample of 38 supervisors and 133 special education teachers. Using Cronbach's coefficient alpha, acceptable reliability is found for special education supervisors. (SLD)

This book is intended to introduce the classroom teacher and prospective teacher to the elements of measurement and assessment that are essential to good teaching. The main theme is that assessment plays an important role in the instructional process. This edition has been revised to reflect major changes in educational assessment since the last…

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most frequently used measures of personality. MBTI Form G and a self-descriptive adjectival checklist, the "Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire" (PPSDQ), were administered to 191 college students. The four dimensions of personality measured by the MBTI are:…