This study reexamines results reported by Angoff and Schrader regarding formula directions and rights directions for standardized tests. Methodological concerns are discussed and additional data analyses undertaken. Alternative interpretations of the data and suggestions for additional research are proposed. (Author/LMO)

Angoff and Schrader find serious statistical flaws in Albanese's index when applied to their data. After careful consideration of a reanalyses made by Albanese and interpretations, they stand firm in their original conclusion that formula scores are essentially invariant under different testing directions. (Author/LMO)

In conventional practice, most educators and educational researchers score cognitive tests using a dichotomous right-wrong scoring system. Although simple and straightforward, this method does not take into consideration other factors, such as partial knowledge or guessing tendencies and abilities. This paper discusses alternative scoring models:…

Discusses the position of examining boards and science teachers in England with respect to student guessing on objective type test items. The results of a questionnaire indicate that most science teachers advise their students to guess when they do not know the correct answer to an item. (JR)

When determining criterion-referenced test length, problems of guessing are shown to be more serious than expected. A new method of scoring is presented that corrects for guessing without assuming that guessing is random. Empirical investigations of the procedure are examined. Test length can be substantially reduced. (Author/CM)

Despite the 50 percent probability of a correctly guessed response, a multiple true-false examination should provide sufficient score variability for adequate discrimination without formula scoring. This scoring system directs examinees to respond to each item, with their scores based simply on the number of correct responses. (Author/CM)

Nonrestricted-answer, multiple-choice test items are recommended as a way of including more facts and fewer incorrect answers in test items, and they do not cue successful guessing as restricted multiple choice items can. Examination construction, scoring, and reliability are discussed. (MSE)

Functional-level testing is fundamental to the evaluation models of the Elementary Secondary Education Act Title I Evaluation and Reporting System, although criteria for determining what is a functional-level test are unclear. Reliability and validity of test scores in the range of chance is at issue. (Author/RL)

Three nonparametric alternatives to the parametric Bartlett test are presented for handling the K-sample equality of variance problem. The two-sample Siegel-Tukey test, Mood test, and Klotz test are extended to the multisample situation by Puri's methods. These K-sample scale tests are illustrated and compared. (Author/GDC)

This study examined the effects of different types of directions on the guessing behavior on multiple-choice tests of 43 male and 39 female fifth-graders. Areas investigated included reward and penalty clauses and test anxiety. Students' understanding of directions was the only significant factor discovered. (TJH)

A total of 36 third, fifth, and seventh graders were interviewed about strategies they used to solve multiple-choice questions involving estimation of discrete quantities. Successful estimators tended to use decomposition/recomposition and multiple benchmark strategies, whereas less successful estimators generally used perceptually based…

Examiners seeking guidance on multiple-choice and true/false tests are likely to encounter various faulty or questionable ideas. Twelve of these are discussed in detail, having to do mainly with the effects on test reliability of test length, guessing and scoring method (i.e. number-right scoring or negative marking). Some misunderstandings could…

The influence of anchor length on the accuracy of test equating was studied using Tucker's linear method and two Item-Response-Theory (IRT) based methods, focusing on whether equating accuracy improved with more anchor items, whether the anchor effect depended on the equating method used, and the adequacy of the inclusion of the guessing parameter…