Performance assessments heavily rely on human ratings. These ratings are typically subject to various forms of error and bias, threatening the assessment outcomes' validity and fairness. Differential rater functioning (DRF) is a special kind of threat to fairness manifesting itself in unwanted interactions between raters and performance- or…

Response styles, the tendency to respond to Likert-type items irrespective of content, are a widely known threat to the reliability and validity of self-report measures. However, it is still debated how to measure and control for response styles such as extreme responding. Recently, multiprocess item response theory models have been proposed that…

Many measurement biases affect student evaluations of instruction (SEIs). However, two have been relatively understudied: halo effects and ceiling/floor effects. This study examined these effects in two ways. To examine the halo effect, using a videotaped lecture, we manipulated specific teacher behaviors to be "good" or "bad"…

This study examined the cultural relevance of adult attachment within a Korean sample (N = 390) using Rasch rating scale modeling. The psychometric properties of scores from the Korean version of the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships, comprised of two subscales of Anxiety (self) and Avoidance (other), were assessed. Results obtained from…

In this study, mixed Rasch modeling was used on the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), a widely used measure of depression, among a non-Western sample of 618 Korean college students. The results revealed three latent classes and confirmed the unidimensionality of the SDS. In addition, there was a significant effect for gender in terms of class…

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is one of the most frequently used instruments in the study of depression both within and outside of the United States. Though developed primarily with European American clinical populations, the BDI has been applied in nonclinical and non-Western samples. To determine whether such a practice is warranted, the…

This study examined the factorial validity of scores on the newly developed Students' Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness Rating Scale (SETERS) through a series of confirmatory and multilevel structures. Conventional confirmatory factor analyses using the total covariance and pooled within-covariance matrices from two midwestern universities…

Determines, for a college sample, the interrelationships among the three Protestant Ethic scales, and examines the relationships of each of the three scales to selected personality, ability, and academic performance measures. (Author/RC)

The validity of the Rational Behavior Inventory was investigated by examining its relationship with four other measures of personality in addition to class standing and age. Results supported the validity of the measure. (JKS)

The early development of the Academic Motivations Inventory, a self-report measure of the academic motivations of college students, is described. Validation and reliability studies suggest that, at present, the instrument could be used to assess motivation of a group or class of students, but not yet as individuals. (Author/JKS)

An existing multidimensional racial attitude inventory was adapted from an agree-disagree format to a rating format. Evidence is presented that this adaptation was successfully accomplished while maintaining strong correspondence to the original, validated instrument. (Author/JKS)

Dimensions of student attitude toward teacher behavior at the college level were investigated via factor analysis. Six factors were extracted and examined with a second sample and compared to dimensions discussed in the literature. (JKS)

Consistent with the distinction between student ratings (ratings assigned) and class ratals (ratings received), various properties of the FACE Instrument scales were investigated. (RC)

The Student Development Inventory and its seven subscales were administered to 163 college students to determine its reliability and factorial validity. Results suggested that it is a reliable and convenient attitudinal inventory. (Sample items are included.) (Author/GDC)

Each of six forms of a 10-item teacher evaluation rating scale, having two to seven response categories per form, was administered to over 100 college students. Means of item responses and item variances increased with the number of response categories. Internal consistency of total scores did not change systematically. (Author/PN)