It may be possible, using assessments of motor and perceptual skills which are largely independent of ethnic and educational background, to admit to the military individuals who would be rejected on the basis of their paper-and-pencil test scores, but who through their performance on non-verbal measures, can be identified as highly likely to…

A sample of 593 pilot trainees in Officer Training School were administered the Strong Vocational Interest Blank and the Officer Biographical and Attitudinal Survey. Their performance in pilot training was monitored in order to assess the effectiveness of biographical, attitudinal, and interest data in predicting pilot training criteria. Using…

This review summarizes the major criticisms of standardized tests and testing and attempts an evaluation of the validity of the criticisms. Viewed in the context of type of test, manner of its use, and assumptions regarding its validity, the paper discusses: (1) the imperfect-prediction problem, where predictions of performance are invalidated by…

This study attempted to test, and in some instances develop, measures of values in a manpower training experience. An inquiry was made into the construct validity of measures of risk taking, time perspective, interpersonal trust, and fatalism. Factor analysis was used as a device for partly assessing the construct validity of a questionnaire by…

Remarks on the practice of class visitation at the college level in English courses are directed toward revealing critical weaknesses of such practice. Examples, drawn from experience, suggest that psychological damage to the instructor often results from direct classroom observation. A more successful approach to evaluation is discussed in terms…

To determine whether it is necessary for eight College Research Center (CRC) member colleges to use 16 distinct sets of weight in combining four admissions tests scores into predictive composities, a standard set of weights were developed and tested for effectiveness in predicting Freshman Average Grade (FAG). The basic sample in which weights…

The paper contains a discussion of the modification of Rotter's Internal External Scale into the three scales of Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance orientations. The tripartite, multidimensional view of locus of control was developed because the validity and usefulness of Rotter's lumping expectancies of fate, chance, and powerful others…

This publication, the first of two volumes, describes the cognitive, psychomotor, and socioemotional measures used in all years of the Head Start Planned Variation Evaluation. Part I discusses generally the issues involved in evaluating the quality of the data, and summarizes findings. Part II contains technical reports on 12 of the individual…

The study reported here was directed at an identification and analysis of characteristics related to secondary school dropout or graduation that are evident in the sixth grade. Subjects used in this investigation were 1090 white males--307 dropouts and 783 graduates; 1100 white females--200 dropouts and 900 graduates; 166 Negro males--69 dropouts…

The purpose of this study was to present and evaluate Bayesian-type models for estimating probabilities of program completion and for predicting first quarter grade point averages of community college students entering certain allied health fields. Two Bayesian models were tested. Bayesian Model 1--Estimating Probabilities of Program…

The ability of three measures to predict teaching employment was examined: National Teacher Examinations; Education in the Elementary School Specialty Area Test; and supervisors' ratings of student teachers, Student Teacher Rating Form (STRF). The test scores were moderately correlated, but the STRF was a more valid predictor of employment.…

Investigates the relationship between topic-specific background knowledge and measures of overall quality, coherence, syntactic complexity, audience, and function in the expository writing of tenth grade students. (HOD)

This paper argues that the federal government's role in vocational and technical education (VTE) should include a greater emphasis on systematically testing promising strategies and interventions and subjecting them to rigorous evaluations of their effects, implementation, costs, and benefits. Section 1 presents a rationale for rethinking the…

The factor structure of the Coping Resources Inventory Scales for Educational Enhancement (CRISEE) was examined for its application to Hispanic, African American, and Non-Hispanic White middle school students. The study was designed to provide additional evidence for the validity of the CRISEE scales and to determine whether its psychometric…

This research attempted to interrelate several methods of producing option weights (i.e., Guttman internal and external weights and judges' weights) and examined their effects on reliability and on concurrent, predictive, and face validity. It was concluded that option weighting offered limited, if any, improvement over unit weighting. (Author/CTM)