Buros-Nebraska Series on Measurement and Testing

 

Date of this Version

1984

Document Type

Article

Citation

Published in Social and Technical Issues in Testing: Implications for Test Construction and Usage, edited by Barbara S. Plake (Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1984).

Comments

Copyright © 1984 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Digital edition copyright © 2012 Buros Center for Testing. This book may be downloaded, saved, and printed by an individual for their own use. No part of this book may be re-published, re-posted, or redistributed without written permission of the holder of copyright.

Abstract

Contents

Preface

1. Filling the Gaps Between Test Outcomes and Usage: An Introduction Barbara S. Plake Purpose of the Volume Overview of the Chapters Conclusions References

PART I SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFLUENCES

2. Struggles and Possibilities: The Use of Tests in Decision Making Ellis Batten Page A Double Standard The Value of Testing Ideological and Scientific Issues Decision Making Test Scores and Deeper Values Production Functions and Causal Research Conclusions References

3. What Cognitive Psychology Can (and Cannot) Do for Test Development Robert J. Sternberg What is Cognitive Psychology? Cognitive Psychology and Test Construction Cognitive Psychology and Test Validation Cognitive Psychology, Test Scoring, and Test Interpretation Cognitive Psychology and Test Modification References

4. The Status of Test Validation Research Lyle F. Schoenfeldt Traditional Approaches to Test Validation Construct Validation Multivariate Validation Models Validity Generalization Productivity Analysis Implications for Test Construction and Test Usage References

5. Social and Legal Influences on Test Development and Usage Donald N. Bersoff Social Influences Social Influences on Legal Decisions: Some Examples Social Science Evidence and the Courts Psychologists and Public Policy References

6. Testing and the Oscar Buros Lament: From Knowledge to Implementation to Use James V. Mitchell, Jr. Measurement Theory and Knowledge Test Technology and the Challenge of Implementation The Bottom Line: The Selection and Effective Use of Tests Conclusions and Recommendations References

PART II INFLUENCES ON APTITUDE AND ACHIEVEMENT TEST DEVELOPMENT AND USAGE

7. Aptitude and Achievement Tests: The Curious Case of the Indestructible Strawperson Anne Anastasi Historical Antecedents Debunking Ventures The Continuum of Developed Abilities More about Aptitudes References

8. Achievement Test Items: Current Issues Robert L. Ebel A Conception of Knowledge The Relation of Knowledge to Ability The Measurability of Human Characteristics The Relative Merits of Essay and Objective Tests The Merits of Items Based on Realistic Problem Situations The Merits of Alternate-Choice Items Prospects for a Technology of Item Writing Concluding Statement References

9. Abilities and Knowledge in Educational Achievement Testing: The Assessment of Dynamic Cognitive Structures Samuel Messick Structures of Knowledge and Ability Expertise and Aptitude The Failings of Fallacies References

Author Index

Subject Index

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