Discusses the issues and debates surrounding the selection of tests for the 1980 longitudinal study "High School and Beyond." The appropriateness and adequacy of the test batteries as used in the analysis of the differences between public and private schools in the report "Public and Private Schools" is also addressed. (RM)

Presents information that teachers need when undertaking affective assessment: why such assessment should be done, what should be assessed, what instruments are available, how to determine the quality of the instrument, and how to interpret scores. (Author/JM)

Causal attributions for a manipulated success-failure event were collected from college students on five different measuring instruments. Results indicated that the structured measures showed greater interest correlation validity than did the open-ended measure. (CM)

Examines the controversy surrounding the administration of the Metropolitan Achievement Test on reading and the subsequent recall of the results data by the chancellor of the New York City schools. (IRT)

Testing is a means of obtaining information about people and their status. Too often tests and testing govern us as educators rather than being governed by us. Reviews the problem and offers some suggestions. (Editor)

Describes and evaluates the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests--Revised (1987), discussing test administration, scoring, technical data, validity, and reliability. Concludes that this test is a reliable instrument for measuring some aspects of the reading process, but recommends its use in conjunction with more theoretically valid holistic-oriented…

This article describes the Scale for the Evaluation of Gifted Identification Instruments, developed for use by school decision makers. Development of the scale is reviewed in terms of five areas of assessment: validity, reliability, propriety, respondent appropriateness, and utility. Specific guidelines and cautions in using the scale are also…

Assesses spelling achievement of fourth graders using four self-corrected test methods (visual and listwise, visual and wordwise, oral and listwise, and oral and wordwise). Finds that wordwise feedback produced significantly higher gains than listwise and no significant differences in gains between visual and oral modes, or among presentation…

The experience of developing a set of comprehensive aptitude batteries for computer administration for the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory's Learning Abilities Measurement Program resulted in the formulation of nine principles for creation of a computerized test battery. These principles are discussed in the context of research on…

Twenty-one language tests that included norms for children ages 4 and 5 were reviewed for information on 10 psychometric criteria. Administration of the 4 tests meeting the most criteria to 20 preschool children with specific language impairments and 20 controls found that only 1 (the Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test) provided…

With increasing emphasis upon accountability, assessment in general, and communication competency in particular, is placing more demands upon human and financial resources. Therefore, those making the decisions about what and how to assess various factors must make informed, ethical, and responsible decisions. To that end, this paper provides a…

The decision of whether to use essay tests or multiple choice tests depends on several qualifiers related to the different characteristics of the tests and the needs of the situation. The most important qualifier involves matching the type of test to the instructional objectives being tested, with multiple choice tests being used to measure a…

Attempts to clarify the position concerning the giving of options in choosing questions on examination papers, and provokes thinking on the curricular and measurement problems associated with it. (Author/PG)

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to discuss the variety of factors which should be considered in establishing a testing program; and (2) to summarize some of the basic features of testing programs in Wisconsin public school districts. An effective district-wide testing program should consist of at least the following seven elements:…