Evaluating the Comparability of Paper‐ and Computer‐Based Science Tests Across Sex and SES Subgroups

As access and reliance on technology continue to increase, so does the use of computerized testing for admissions, licensure/certification, and accountability exams. Nonetheless, full computer‐based test (CBT) implementation can be difficult due to limited resources. As a result, some testing programs offer both CBT and paper‐based test (PBT) administration formats. In such situations, evidence that scores obtained from different formats are comparable must be gathered. In this study, we illustrate how contemporary statistical methods can be used to provide evidence regarding the comparability of CBT and PBT scores at the total test score and item levels. Specifically, we looked at the invariance of test structure and item functioning across test administration mode across subgroups of students defined by SES and sex. Multiple replications of both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch differential item functioning analyses were used to assess invariance at the factorial and item levels. Results revealed a unidimensional construct with moderate statistical support for strong factorial‐level invariance across SES subgroups, and moderate support of invariance across sex. Issues involved in applying these analyses to future evaluations of the comparability of scores from different versions of a test are discussed.     

The 'new' politics of education in Britain's changing times

The British Labour Party has continued to make progress on education, following two broad policy paths and adopting a pragmatic approach that does not attempt to force these to cross or converge. One path is that of the quasi market inherited from the previous Conservative administration; the other is characterised as 'intervention' to support those for whom the market remains almost entirely irrelevant. Some observers regard this dual approach as 'opportunism' and Labour's education policy as a 'betrayal' of principle, by which is meant the principle of 'equal opportunity'. Of course, that principle provides equal opportunity to fail as much as to succeed. Rather than leaving education to the market, Labour has focused on the needs of those most likely to be failed by the principle of 'equal' opportunity in a quasi market.     

Judgment‐Based Scoring by Teachers as Professional Development: Distinguishing Promises from Proof

The engagement of teachers as raters to score constructed response items on assessments of student learning is widely claimed to be a valuable vehicle for professional development. This paper examines the evidence behind those claims from several sources, including research and reports over the past two decades, information from a dozen state educational agencies regarding past and ongoing involvement of teachers in scoring‐related activities as of 2001, and interviews with educators who served a decade or more ago for one state's innovative performance assessment program. That evidence reveals that the impact of scoring experience on teachers is more provisional and nuanced than has been suggested. The author identifies possible issues and implications associated with attempts to distill meaningful skills and knowledge from hand‐scoring training and practice, along with other forms of teacher involvement in assessment development and implementation. The paper concludes with a series of research questions that—based on current and proposed practice for the coming decade—seem to the author to require the most immediate attention.     

基于统计-规则方法的网页层次分类技术研究

基于统计的自动分类是网页层次分类中常用的技术，但其有不足之处，主要表现为当子类之间出现严重的特征交叉现象时，分类精确率将大大下降。而网页层次分类的本质决定了同一大类下的子类存在许多相同的特征。针对这一局限性，结合基于规则的自动分类技术的优点，提出一种基于统计-规则方法的网页层次分类技术。实验表明，基于统计-规则方法的网页层次分类技术能够获得比较理想的分类效果。     

Ethnic and regional influences on teachers' evaluations of oral answers

Tape recordings were made of six white and six black ninth-grade northern boys speaking identically worded answers to typical school questions. Black students were given significantly higher grades than white students by 56 white and 50 black southern teachers. Black teachers gave significantly higher grades than white teachers, but no significant interaction was found between students' and teachers' ethnic group. The study is a partial replication of a previous study in which it was found that black students were given significantly lower grades than white students by northern white teachers.     

对我国帆船、帆板运动项目发展的整体思考

本文认为,要尽快提高我国帆船、帆板的竞技水平,必须合理进行项目布局,改革训练与竞赛体制,建立科技先导型运动队。     

语言迁移研究评述

深入理解二语习得的本质、过程及其发展规律离不开对语言迁移的研究。语言学家以行为主义心理学和认知心理学为理论基础研究语言迁移现象及其发展规律。语言迁移对外语教学和外语学习有重要意义。     

我国高等职业教育校本课程研究的现状与展望

本文在对高等职业教育校本课程概念进行界定与辩识的基础上,综述了我国当前高等职业教育校本课程开发研究的意义、研究的目标与内容、研究的思路与方法,最后对我国高等职业教育校本课程研究未来研究的趋势进行了展望和建议。     

馆本培训——高校图书馆员继续教育的新途径

针对高校图书馆员目前综合素质偏低的现状，提出了馆本培训这一继续教育的新理念，探讨了馆员培训过程中应包含的具体内容和采取的措施。