One formulation of confidence scoring requires the examinee to indicate as a number his personal probability of the correctness of each alternative in a multiple-choice test. For this formulation a linear transformation of the logarithm of the correct response is maximized if the examinee accurately reports his personal probability. To equate…

Decision-theoretic testing is used to explore whether students can improve their realism, i.e. congruence between reported and true probabilities. Randomized sets of math problems were presented at computer terminals to 49 seventh graders from two classes (high/low achievers) over a period of three weeks. The subject assigned values to each of…

Investigated were the effects of two levels of penalty for incorrect responses on two dependent variables (a measure of risk-taking or confidence, based on nonsense items, and the number of response-attempts to legitimate items) for three treatment groups in a 2x3, multi-response repeated measures, multivariate ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) design.…

A 4 x 4 factorial experiment was conducted with 152 college age volunteers to investigate the effects of different forms of mathemagenic information (algorithms, heuristics, attribute elaboration, and attribute isolation) on concept acquisition. Results showed that both definition and instance presentation had a significant effect on students'…

Possible differences in rater confidence were investigated among raters whose primary role with the ratee was either professorial or administrative or that of an employer. As hypothesized, significant differences were found among the groups and among types of performance rated. (LBH)

A study to determine student knowledge and confidence in that knowledge when answering multiple-choice examination questions in a nonprescription drug course is described. An alternate approach to methods of confidence testing was investigated. The knowledge and experience survey is appended. (Author/MLW)

Methods, materials, analysis, and results of an assessment of the course are presented. The methods, application, and validity of the assessment and its use in assessing curriculum content and documenting changes are discussed. (CW)

Uses questionnaire data to examine the relationship between perceived gender interaction in the classroom and course confidence for undergraduate science, mathematics, and technology majors. Compared with male majors, female majors reported significantly lower course confidence, recognition by and respect from instructors, respect for female…

In an experiment to test whether gender differences in self-evaluation biases exist, 264 female and 174 male students were used. Participants were placed in mixed-sex groups, ranging from 2-10 people. Test anonymity and non-competitiveness were emphasized to minimize self-presentation concerns. Three different measures of accuracy/bias were…

Although the distinction between verbal ability and spatial ability is fundamental in all models of human abilities, differences in the relative strengths of verbal and spatial abilities have failed to show consistent interactions with instructional treatments. This study investigated the hypothesis that spatial tests measure different abilities…

This experiment investigated the effect of a delay in informative feedback in computer-managed instruction upon later retention. Experimental groups of undergraduate college students were given a computer-managed test and received informative feedback (1) immediately, item by item (2 second delay); (2) following the entire test (20 minute delay);…

An attempt is made to explore the use of subjective probabilities in the analysis of item data, especially criterion-referenced item data. Two assumptions are implicit: (1) one wants to obtain a maximum amount of information with respect to an item using a minimum number of subjects; and (2) once the item is validated, it may well be administered…

This handbook, the result of a study begun in 1968, is designed to assist the forecaster in developing an increased sensitivity to potential changes in conditions affecting enrollments. Study results indicate that school enrollment forecasting is enhanced primarily by (1) knowing the community involved thoroughly, (2) applying a standard…

Young adults and older adults participated in a weight discrimination study to decide if two weights lifted successively were the same or different and to rate the decision confidence of responses. Younger adults discriminated between weights better than older adults and men discriminated better than women. (Author/CC)