Reviews the Sucher-Allred Group Reading Placement, used to determine the instructional reading level for students in grades 2-12. Concludes that the test correlates well with other standard tests and is useful as an informal reading inventory. (RS)

Assessment instruments should be selected on the basis of test design variables (such as date of development and content sequence), test construction variables (including standardization results), examinee-related variables (such as prerequisite skills and vocabulary level), examiner-related variables (including preparation and skills), and…

Evaluates Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) as a rapidly administrable test of intelligence. The PPVT and Doppelt Short Form of the WAIS were given to 150 outpatients. Results suggest clinicians should be cautious in making decisions about patients on the basis of PPVT scores. (Author)

Describes and evaluates the Spellmaster Assessment and Teaching System, a program for testing and teaching spelling at elementary, middle/junior, and senior high school levels. Concludes that although Spellmaster might be useful in clinical applications, its use in developmental, whole language programs is questionable. (MM)

Discusses most widely used measures to inquire about depression in children and adolescents, including self-reporting scales, clinician-completed rating scales, and structured diagnostic interviews. Includes information on how to obtain copies of the measures and related materials that provide information on psychometric properties. (NB)

Investigated relationship between Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition (SB:IV) abbreviated batteries and complete battery among 38 college students. Findings suggest that school psychologists who use abbreviated versions of SB:IV with older adolescents and young adults should be aware that these short forms may underestimate students'…

The Center for the Study of Evaluation (CSE) compiled a catalog of existing criterion referenced tests (CRT) and other objectives-based tests for use in kindergarten through grade 12. CSE consulted publishers' catalogs, bibliographies, and test lists, and conducted computer searches of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and…

Testing has been perceived as a panacea, an elixir for obtaining data on innate human abilities. Since the empirical research and the experience of clinicians has not been fully able to meet this expectation adequately, assessment has been ascribed the quality of having an illusionary nature. Hence, it has been proposed by various factions in the…

Individually Prescribed Instruction (IPI) has been criticized as inhibiting the development of creativity. It is proposed that a pilot study be conducted whose goal will be the selection and trial of instruments for measuring creative problem-solving ability in order to compare IPI pupils with non-IPI pupils, and to differentiate among individuals…

Take a scientific approach to the use of psychological testing in business and industry, and analyze jobs carefully as an important part of setting up a testing program. The article offers a step-by-step procedure for testing employees, analyzing results, and deciding whether the test is useful or not. (Author/AJ)

Investigated factor structures of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) for 212 normal children. Findings suggest correspondence between: (1) WISC-R Verbal Comprehension and K-ABC Achievement; (2) WISC-R Perceptual Organization and K-ABC Simultaneous Processing; and (3) WISC-R…

Addresses issues important to developmental psychologists in selecting an SES index, specifically discussing (1) the use of Hollingshead's SES indexes; (2) the interrelationships among contemporary SES indexes; and (3) the relationships among these SES indexes and young children's development. (Author/KS)