Findings indicate Type A behavior was related in preschoolers to ratings of aggression and impatience, but not to intelligence. Reaction times of Type B children who worked without a time limit and an incentive were significantly longer than those of Type A children and those of Type B children who worked with a time limit and an incentive.…

Two tests of critical thinking (the Cornell Critical Thinking Test and the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal) were evaluated by a panel of psychologists relative to the validity, reliability, and error of measurement standards stated in the "Standards for Educational and Psychological Tests," 1974. (PN)

Describes a study conducted at DeKalb Community College to compare placement levels established by the college's in-house Reading, English and Mathematics (REM) Test with Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Discusses REM placement levels and their course alignments, internal challenges to the placement levels, and correlation study findings. (DMM)

The Play Rating Scale was developed to observe young children's behaviors in four different areas of play: physical, block, manipulative, and dramatic. In each area, observations focus on frequency, ability, and creativity in communicating ideas; social levels of participation; and leadership capability. A total of 2,400 three-, four- and…

Explores issues of indicator reliability, longitudinal stability, and parent-child similarity of family communication patterns (FCP). Demonstrates that several of the items in the standard FCP battery are highly unreliable for both parent and child respondents. Discusses a reconceptualization of research focusing on family norms and interaction.…

Applies to the inclined-plane task Siegler's (1981) observation that performance on Piagetian tasks is governed by similar rule structures. Also replicates Siegler's original observations about the development on the balance-scale task and determines the consistency in children's rule usage across tasks. (Author/AS)

Argues that, while computers make the computation of readability formulas easy, teachers should not forget the need to apply judgment and common sense to the results. Discusses RIXRATE, a computerized version of the Rix index and compares its performance to that of the Rauding Scale. (FL)

Explains how tables of specifications (used in estabishing content validity) and item analysis (a modificatin of item difficulty) can readily be used by the classroom teacher to design well-balanced tests. (HOD)

An eight test battery was constructed to measure four specific cognitive abilities in preschool children: verbal skill, memory, perceptual speed, and spatial ability. Based on results of factor analyses of the testing of 98 three year olds, a shorter version, consisting of four tests, was devised which shows promising validity. (Author/BS)

Discusses the problems of readers' different responses to essay test passages and the implications for the subsequent writing assignment. Describes a model of the writing assessment episode and discusses four generalizations about writing task interpretation. (HTH)

Discusses a study of the reliability of a categorical instrument for evaluating compositions written by upper intermediate university English as a second language students. The instrument tests organization, logical development of ideas, grammar, mechanics, and style. Results indicate that the scoring instrument is moderately reliable. (SED)

Cloze-based evaluations of reading comprehension present room for a greater amount of subjectivity in rating reader response. A study was designed to ascertain the nature of potential subjectivity within a single-rater's ratings of cloze-based assessments of reading comprehension. (DF)

Twelve behaviorally disordered special education students were randomly placed in one of three groups: self-recording, self-recording plus backups, and a control group. On-task and academic responding was significantly higher for both experimental groups, but the performance of the two self-monitoring groups was not statistically different.…

The intraclass reliability of an oral examination administered during a clinical clerkship was analyzed in three ways: by traditional estimation, by faculty evaluation of taped examinations, and with use of a new evaluation form. A noticeable increase in reliability was found with the new form's use. (MSE)

Factor analyzed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised for both upper- and lower-socioeconomic-status classifications from the standardization sample (N=2,200). Results showed that the three-factor solution was most appropriate for both groups and that factor structure appeared to be invariant with regard to socioeconomic status.…