Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / The purpose of this study is to develop a set of criteria to evaluate the spelling area of an elementary school. The criteria consists of specific statements indicating desirable conditions and procedures in certain areas of the elementary school program. SUch statements should furnish a means for teachers to examine and evaluate the effectiveness of their own work. The Evaluative Criteria, an instrument by which a secondary school can be evaluated through making a self-evaluation, was developed by the Cooperative Study of Secondary-School Standards in 19~0 and revised in 1950. These criteria have been used extensively and successfully throughout the United States. Because it has been proved through use of the instrument that self-evaluation leads to improvement, it seemed pertinent to develop similar instrument by which an elementary school can be evaluated.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University

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The general purpose of this study was to do further research work with Dombrose and Slobin's Photo-Analysis Test, and to construct a comparable Photo-Analysis Test without some of the possible defects which produced the unexpected results for Dombrose and Slobin. Both tests were used for measuring impulse, ego, and superego sex differences, and Dombrose and Slobin's test was also used for comparing age group differences of both sexes, on their impulse, ego, and superego responses. This study was also expected to contribute to the psychological literature concerning the sex differences on the self-rating of conscience as a determinant of behavior, as well as sex differences on the relative strength of the impulse, ego, and superego variables. The test constructed for the present study had both male and female photographs of a broad age range, instead of male photographs only, as in Dombrose and Slobin's test. The photographs were tested for ambiguity, and the items were tested for impulse, ego, and superego content, in preliminary studies. A seven point self-rating scale was constructed according to the specifications of the literature. This scale was expected to measure conscience as a determinant of behavior, with the scores acting as an independent means of testing the test for validity. Both tests were converted into a single group test, so that the photographs could be projected on the screen by the use of a projector. The test was given to two introductory psychology classes at the University of British Columbia, of which forty-two females and fifty-five males, eighteen and nineteen years of age, remained for the statistical analysis. The subjects were expected to project impulse and superego pressures through the processes of perception, apperception, empathy, and identification. Fifty hypotheses were set up for testing the experimental results, and both the Chi-square and t tests were used for testing the hypotheses. Fifteen hypotheses, which affected Dombrose and Slobin's test only, only demanded the results to be in the predicted direction and position in order to be verified. The other hypotheses had to be supported at the .05 level of confidence in order to be verified. The results show that the test constructed for the present study is a useful instrument for measuring impulse and ego sex differences, but not superego sex differences. Dombrose and Slobin1s test was not able to differentiate in the predicted direction between the sexes on any of the critical variables. The results from Dombrose and Slobin's test on the male age group differences were no better than could be expected by chance alone. The two female age groups, that were compared, verified the hypotheses set up for the impulse and ego variables, but not those set up for the superego variable. Since only two female age groups were compared, no definite conclusions can be formulated for the impulse, ego, and superego variables. The male photographs elicited more impulse and fewer ego and superego responses, from both male and female subjects, than the female photographs, but the superego differences were not significant statistically. Only the females produced more impulse and fewer ego responses in response to Dombrose and Slobin's test than in response to the female photographs. The male response was not in the predicted direction on any of the critical variables, when the responses to Dombrose and Slobin's photographs and the female photographs were compared. Both tests differentiate fairly well among the male groups which had been grouped on the basis of their own self-rating of conscience as a determinant of behavior. Dombrose and Slobin's test, however, differentiated much better than the test constructed for the present study when similar female groups were compared, but the differences were in the predicted direction only on the impulse and ego variables. Both tests appear to be measuring different things in males and females, and the superego variable differentiates poorest of the three critical variables. These tests, however, do appear to be measuring more than overt behavior, and seem to be getting at underlying psychodynamics. In general, the test constructed for the present study seems to be an improvement over Dombrose and Slobin's test. The self-rating scale seems to be a valid instrument for measuring conscience as a determinant of behavior for both sexes. It is suggested that more research work be done with both the Photo-Analysis Test and the self-rating scale. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the predictive value of psychological tests on the final grade obtained by students in the University of British Columbia Real Estate Diploma course. The tests used in the study were: 1. Non-Language Multimental Test 2. Adaptability Test 3. Arithmetical Reasoning Test 4. Vocabulary Recognition Test 5. Michigan Speed of Reading Test - Form I 6. Practical Judgement Test 7. Sales Comprehension Test 8. Sales Motivation Test 9. Strong Inventory Vocational Blank (Revised) 10. Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, A sample of 103 students was obtained which consisted of a Spring 1959 class and a Fall 1959 class. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed on the data. Coefficients of correlation were calculated between the predictor variables and the criterion singly and in all possible combinations. From these regression equations were constructed. The adaptability Test alone was the best predictor variable of the final grade obtained in the Real Estate course. Various recommendations for further study were listed. The most important of them was one concerning that a larger number of subjects be sought in subsequent studies. Mention is also made of the value of using multiple criteria of success in a study of this nature. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study was designed to test the theoretical interpretation of the Field-Independence Dimension of intellectual functioning. Witkin (1962, 1964, 1965) and Silverman (1968) proposed that consistent individual differences, which were found when subjects responded to the Rod and Frame Test (RFT) and the Embedded Figures Test (EFT), reflected differences in ability to analyse a complex perceptual field and to resist the attraction of irrelevant elements of the field. Field-independent (FID) subjects were thought to be highly analytic and highly resistant to distraction whereas field-dependent (FD) individuals were thought to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the perceptual field. Elliott (1961) suggested that the responses of field-independent and field-dependent persons were determined by brain function and were not affected by the nature of the perceptual field. A discriminant identification task was designed so that the effect of variations in stimulus input could be studied in relation to FID, intermediate (N) and FD groups of subjects. The subjects were 96 male volunteers who were divided into FID, N and FD groups on the basis of their combined scores on the RFT and EFT. They were presented with complex visual arrays and were asked to focus upon a designated part (or item) of each array. Their task was to name a feature of the designated item which distinguished that item from all other items on the array. The stimuli were altered in three specific ways: firstly there were either three or six separate items; secondly each item carried either three or six attributes (e.g. shape, size and colour of the central figure, colour of the background, number and design of borders); thirdly the subject's chance of finding a correct response by "luck" (chance) could be either one in three (high) or one in six (low). Thus the amount of input that the arrays carried was varied in two ways (items, attributes) and the need to analyse complexity was also varied (probability of chance success). The response measures were latency of response and the number of errors. On the basis of Witkin's and Silverman's interpretations, increases in the amount of stimulus input or in the need for stimulus analysis should cause differential changes in the response latencies and error scores of FID, N and FD subjects. The FID-Group should show least increase in latencies of response and in error scores and the FD-Group should show the greatest increase on these measures. The response latencies and error scores of the N-Group should increase to an intermediate degree. The alternate interpretation which Elliott proposed generated the prediction that changes in stimulus parameters would not cause differential changes among FID, N and FD groups. According to this author, all changes on response measures should be of the same magnitude and in the same direction. The results of the study supported Elliott's interpretation of Field Independence. There was no interaction between increased stimulus input and level of field dependence, or between decreased probability of success and level of field dependence. The results showed that there were significant differences among the FID, N and FD groups with respect to latency of response (.025) and error scores (.05). The differences were in the predicted direction. Changes in the amount of stimulus input and in the probability of success by chance were also reflected in significant differences in response latencies (items, p<,001; attributes, p<.001; probability of success, p<.001). Error scores were a less sensitive measure of stimulus manipulations. There was a significant effect, in the predicted direction, which was due to probability of success (p<.001), but the other significant effects (items, p<.05; attributes, p<.001) were in the opposite direction to that which had been predicted. Fewer errors were made when the amount of stimulus input was increased. When the amount of stimulus input was varied, the number of errors appeared to be a function of the latency of response. Less than 10% of responses were error responses. It was concluded that differences between FID, N and FD groups do not reflect differential responsiveness to external stimulation, and it was suggested that more attention should be paid to consideration of the manner in which stimulus inputs are processed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the electromyographic signal recorded from a working muscle reflects changes in blood lactate concentrations. A group of trained cyclists performed two incremental exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. The Control Trial was a incremental test with power increments of 23.5 watts per minute. Cadence was monitored and maintained at 90+/-1 revolutions per minute. The Experimental Trial consisted of a high intensity arm exercise protocol designed to elevate blood lactate above 8 mmol/1. The arm protocol was followed by five minutes of rest and the incremental exercise protocol used in the Control Trial. Expired gases were sampled every fifteen seconds and calculated values for oxygen uptake, ventilation, excess CO₂, and R.Q. were averaged to give a mean value for each minute in both trials. Heart rate was monitored and recorded every minute for both trials. Electromyographic data were sampled from the vastus lateralis of the right leg for the final eight seconds of each workload in both trials. The data were integrated for each pedal cycle and averaged to give a mean integrated value for each cycle (CIEMG) for each workload. During both trials blood samples were drawn from the cephalic vein of the left arm during the last ten seconds of each workload. The anaerobic threshold (Tlac) was determined using the log-log transformation as outlined by Beaver et al., (1985). Control Trial lactate concentration showed a marked inflection point after an initial slow increase. The mean maximal lactate concentration was 18.21 +/- 5.54 in the Control Trials. This inflection point occurred at a mean lactate concentration of 5.58 +/- 1.05 mmol/1. The mean oxygen uptake at the inflection point was 2.28 +/- 0.37 1/min which represented a mean of 72.6 +/- 7.20 % of maximum. Experimental Trial mean plasma lactate at the beginning of incremental exercise was 26.61 +/- 8.86 mmol/1. The plasma lactate concentration decreased steadily for the initial loads to a mean low concentration of 10.78 +/- 5.78 mmol/1 at Tlac and then increased to a mean of 19.08 +/- 6.66 mmol/1 at test completion. Plasma lactate concentration was greater in the Experimental Trial at all workloads though the values tended to converge once Tlac was surpassed. No visually identifiable inflection point in the plot of CIEMG vs Power could be determined in any of the plots. An analysis of the slope of the CIEMG vs. Power relationship was therefore performed. An analysis of variance demonstrated no significant difference in the slope of the relationship within or between trials in three different comparisons. The slope of the line was not statistically different when compared over: (a) the entire sample (b) pre Tlac and (c) post Tlac. Correlations performed between plasma lactate concentrations and CIEMG were significant in five of six subjects during the Control Trial (r = 0.57 to 0.97). During the Experimental Trial only three of the six subjects showed significant correlations and they were in the opposite direction (r = -0.62 to -0.96). Correlations between power output and CIEMG were for all subjects in both trials (r = 0.92 to 0.99 Control, r = 0.91 to 0.99 Experimental). The increase seen in CIEMG with increased power output reflects poorly the changes in blood lactate concentrations under the conditions of this investigation. Plasma lactate showed a dramatic increase in the Control Trial and a steady decrease from an initial high concentration followed by a marked increase in the final workloads of the Experimental Trial. In contrast the CIEMG increased in a near linear fashion for all subjects in both trials. The changes in CIEMG showed highly significant correlations with changes in VO₂ or power output in both trials for all subjects. These results indicate that changes in the surface electromyogram are highly related to changes in power output. However the surface electromyogram changes are not driven by changes in lactate concentration under the conditions of this investigation and may not be a sensitive enough indicator of these changes to be employed in the determination of Tlac. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to compare linear fixed length test (LFT), multi stage test (MST), and computer adaptive test (CAT) designs under three levels of item pool quality, two levels of match between test and item pool content specifications, two levels of test length, and several levels of exposure control expected to be practical for a number of testing programs. This design resulted in 132 conditions that were evaluated using a simulation study with 9000 examinees on several measures of overall measurement precision including reliability, the mean error and root mean squared error between true and estimated ability levels, classification precision including decision accuracy, false positive and false negative rates, and Kappa for cut scores corresponding to 30%, 50%, and 85% failure rates, and conditional measurement precision with the conditional root mean squared error between true and estimated ability levels conditioned on 25 true ability levels. Test reliability, overall and conditional measurement precision, and classification precision increased with item pool quality and test length, and decreased with less adequate match between item pool and test specification match. In addition, as the maximum exposure rate decreased and the type of exposure control implemented became more restrictive, test reliability, overall and conditional measurement precision, and classification precision decreased. Within item pool quality, match between test and item pool content specifications, test length, and exposure control, CAT designs showed superior psychometric properties as compared to MST designs which in turn were superior to LFT designs. However, some caution is warranted in interpreting these results since the ability of the automated test assembly software to construct test that met specifications was limited in conditions where pool usage was high. The practical importance of the differences between test designs on the evaluation criteria studied is discussed with respect to the inferences test users seek to make from test scores and nonpsychometric factors that may be important in some testing programs.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of several testing variables—level of item quality, item bank size, placement of passing score, and computer-based test design, on two important indicators of the quality of credentialing exams, decision consistency and decision accuracy. The computer-based test designs of interest in this study were linear parallel form tests, multi-stage tests, and computerized adaptive tests. The choice of test design model plays an important role in both minimizing decision-making error and increasing test efficiency. However, of equal, if not greater, importance are the resources available to test developers: the number of items in the bank, and the quality of the items. Simulation studies were conducted to investigate the effects of these testing variables on the accuracy and consistency of binary decision-making of credentialing exams. These variables are all very essential and manipulable in practice and therefore their roles are especially worthy of investigation. To the extent possible, realistic situations were simulated to increase the generalizability of the findings. The main findings from the study were as follows: (1) improvements in item quality had the desirable effect of increasing decision accuracy and decision consistency by a practically significant amount; (2) doubling bank size helped significantly in lowering item exposure but had little direct impact on decision accuracy and decision consistency; (3) the location of the passing score significantly impacted on test length necessary to achieve desirable levels of test statistics, and (4) all three computer-based test designs produced comparable results in the conditions simulated. Two main conclusions can be drawn from the findings. First, steps to increase item quality such as improving item writer training, cloning the best items, and improving and extending field testing of new items, offer the potential for improving the statistical characteristics of pass-fail credential exam decisions. Second, the general attractiveness of new computer-based test designs may be less important when pass-fail decisions rather than precise ability estimates are the focus of the examination. Clearly, more research to pursue these two conclusions, and confirm them, if possible, is in order.

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