More than just test scores

Around the world we hear considerable talk about creating world-class schools. Usually the term refers to schools whose students get very high scores on the international comparisons of student achievement such as PISA or TIMSS. The practice of restricting the meaning of exemplary schools to the narrow criterion of achievement scores is usually premised on the view that test scores are closely linked to the provision of a capable labour force and competitive economy. In fact, the measured relationships between test scores and earnings or productivity are modest and explain a relatively small share of the larger link between educational attainment and economic outcomes. What has been omitted from such narrow assessments are the effects that education has on the development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and capabilities that affect the quality and productivity of the labour force. This article provides evidence on some of these relationships, on the degree to which the non-cognitive effects of schooling contribute to adult performance, and on the evidence that deliberate school interventions can influence non-cognitive outcomes. It concludes with the view that the quest for world-class schools must encompass a range of human development characteristics that extend considerably beyond test scores.     

Music publishing & collecting: Essays in honor of Donald W. Krummel : Hunter, David (Ed.). Urbana, IL: Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994. 252 pp. $45.00 (ISBN 0-87845-095-5)

LISR considers for review reference works, dissertations, research methods texts, computer software, and professional literature covering the research process and applications of research. Views expressed are those of the reviewers and do not necessarily reflect views of the Editorial Board or publisher. Anyone wishing to write reviews or suggest titles should contact Debora Shaw at the School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405 shawd@ indiana.edu or shawd@iubacs.bitnet. Publishers, likewise, are requested to forward announcements of new and forthcoming titles that may interest LISR readers.     

Making the bridge: Testing a library workshop for a summer bridge learning community

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), collaborated with the CSULA Student Support Program and the Educational Opportunity Program in an innovative attempt to increase visibility and use of library resources and services by at-risk students enrolled in the 2005 Summer Bridge Program. Workshops were held for tutors, study group leaders, and writing instructors associated with the Summer Bridge. Assessment of the program was conducted through a survey of workshop participants. Writing instructors and tutors were overwhelmingly positive in their response to the workshop, but study group leaders were more evenly divided in their assessment of the workshop's utility, which suggests that alumni of the Summer Bridge Program may benefit from additional instructional support services.     

The broadcaster's responsibility for advertising

Far too often, one comes upon people who are unwilling or unable to tear down the artificial walls between “academic research” and “practical broadcasting.” Naturally, many of the most fruitful researchers recognize the advantages of tying their work to the “real world,” and many of the most efficient broadcasters rely strongly upon rigorous research rather than “seat of the pants” intuition. In the following article yet another link between research and broadcasting is demonstrated: the use of research, conducted by or on behalf of a station, to provide a wealth of newsworthy stories for the broadcaster. Whereas most journal articles emphasize the substantive results of a research, here they serve primarily as examples, with emphasis on reporting and the application of research techniques in the newsroom.

Dr. McCombs is an associate professor of journalism in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Waters is assistant news manager of station WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina.     

The Value of Choice: An Experiment Using Multiple‐Choice Tests

This article presents a novel experimental methodology in which groups of students were offered the option to choose between two equivalent scoring rules to assess a multiple‐choice test. The effect of choosing the scoring rule on marks is tested. Two major contributions arise from this research. First, it contributes to the literature on the value of choice. Second, it also contributes to the literature on the educational measurement of knowledge. The results suggest that choice could positively affect students' scores. However, students need to learn to choose the assessment method. Moreover, women seem to obtain greater benefits from the option of choosing the scoring rule.