Studied the solution strategies of 55 high school students who solved parallel constructed response and multiple-choice items that differed only in the presence of response options. Differences in difficulty between response formats did not correspond to differences in strategy choice. Interprets results in light of the relative comprehension…

Evaluated a computer-delivered response type for measuring quantitative skill, the "Generating Examples" (GE) response type, which presents under-determined problems that can have many right answers. Results from 257 graduate students and applicants indicate that GE scores are reasonably reliable, but only moderately related to Graduate Record…

Examined alternative-item types and section configurations for improving the discriminant and convergent validity of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test using a computer-based test given to 388 examinees who had taken the GRE previously. Adding new variations of logical meaning appeared to decrease discriminant validity. (SLD)

A computer-delivered problem-solving task based on cognitive research literature was developed and its validity for graduate admissions assessment was studied with 107 undergraduates. Use of the test, which asked examinees to sort word-problem stems by prototypes, was supported by the findings. (SLD)

Scoring accuracy and item functioning were studied for an open-ended response type test in which correct answers can take many different surface forms. Results with 1,864 graduate school applicants showed automated scoring to approximate the accuracy of multiple-choice scoring. Items functioned similarly to other item types being considered. (SLD)

Causes of differential item difficulty for blind students taking the braille edition of the Scholastic Aptitude Test's mathematical section were studied. Data for 261 blind students were compared with data for 8,015 non-handicapped students. Results show an association between selected item categories and differential item functioning. (TJH)

To identify broad classes of items on the Scholastic Aptitude Test that behave differentally for handicapped examinees taking special, extended time administrations, the performance of nine handicapped groups and one nonhandicapped group on each of two forms of the SAT was investigated through a two-stage procedure. (Author/LMO)

Examined the generalizability and validity and examinee perceptions of a computer-delivered version of 8 formulating-hypotheses tasks administered to 192 graduate students. Results support previous research that has suggested that formulating-hypotheses items can broaden the abilities measured by graduate admissions measures. (SLD)

The relationship of multiple-choice and free-response items on the College Board's Advanced Placement Computer Science Examination was studied using confirmatory factor analysis. Results with 2 samples of 1,000 high school students suggested that the most parsimonious fit was achieved using a single factor. Implications for construct validity are…