After taking a personality test, subjects reported their reactions to being tested. Reactions were diverse, even in the same subject. Free responses to 10 questions were coded into 16 categories within five broad groups. Desire for information about the test and about self, and criticism of testing were very prevalent; criticisms of self and…

Results of the Nowicki Locus of Control Scale indicated that the instrument did not differentiate between mildly handicapped Australian children with cerebral palsy (N=85) integrated into regular schools and their nondisabled peers (N=1391) nor was it a significant correlate of academic or social performance for the target group. (Author/CB)

Cognitive and affective scales for assessing computer attitudes were administered to 2,525 students and educators. Results supported test validity and reliability. Generally positive cognitive attitudes were found, as well as a rejection of negative affective attitudes. (The 14 items are included) (GDC)

"Women in Science Scale," a 27-item instrument for measuring adolescents' attitudes toward women in science careers, was determined to be reliable by estimates of internal consistency (alpha = 0.92) and stability over time (r = 0.82). The instrument also clearly distinguishes between scores of males and females regardless of sex. (JN)

This report presents findings of a review of the current research on the effectiveness of distance education in higher education. Major findings indicate, first, there is a paucity of truly original research dedicated to explaining or predicting phenomena related to distance learning; and, second, although most studies indicate that distance…

Classroom behavior was observed over a six-month period in 68 junior high school classes to determine (a) the temporal stability of the behavioral indexes and (b) reliable trends over the school year. A certain deterioration occurs in late spring and observations obtained in midyear are less likely to be distorted. (Author/GK)

A survey of 65 freshman and 195 junior business administration majors in one metropolitan state university investigated student perceptions of institutional attributes salient in college choice. Results suggest standards of institutional quality are difficult to establish, since evaluations of institutional performance are not consistent, even…

Fifty education majors in two sections responded to an Attitudes toward Mathematics and Its Teaching (ATMAT) scale. Results with two psychometric models, classical true-score theory and the one-parameter Rasch model, supported the ATMAT's reliability, content and construct validity, and invariance over three time points. (SLD)

Responses of 109 students who failed reliability or validity checks on a school climate and violence questionnaire were compared with those of a randomly matched group who answered consistently and accurately. Results indicated significant differences in terms of school violence victimization and perceived danger at school. (SLD)

The Student Perceptions of Classroom Quality was administered to 420 high school students. Results found that the constructs measured by the assessment (meaningfulness, challenge, choice, and appeal) were clearly tied to student motivation and learning. Validity and reliability of the test were established. Implications for gifted programming are…

A study examined preferences of students in teacher education for male and female teachers and for teacher work experience, as an indication of the validity of student evaluations of teachers. Reacting to descriptions of hypothetical teaching situations, students preferred male teachers and teachers with public school experience. (MSE)

The Test of Reactions and Adaptation in College (TRAC), a measure of students' personal dispositions toward learning, is presented. Results from 2 different samples of college students (n=1,081) indicate acceptable psychometric characteristics for the TRAC. The TRAC predicted college success better than high school weighted academic average did.…

The Test of Mathematical Abilities is used to identify students (ages 8-18) who are above or below age peers in 5 areas (attitude toward math, vocabulary, computation, general information, and story problems). This paper describes the test's administration, summation of data, standardization, reliability, and validity. (JDD)

Instruments used in a study by M. B. Kinzie and M. A. Delacourt (1991), the Attitude towards Computer Technologies (ACT) and the Self-efficacy for Computer Technologies (SCT), assess preservice teachers' perceived usefulness of and comfort level with specific computer technologies. This study uses a population confirmed to be similar to that used…

A study determined the viability and effectiveness of the Computerized Competent Speaker Evaluation System. A total of 659 comments made by undergraduate students about the paper version of the Competent Speaker Speech Evaluation Form were subjected to two Q sorts. The 635 comments that emerged were incorporated into the evaluation system during…