October 2003
Practice Effects by guest author Alan S. Kaufman
Practice effects refer to gains in scores on cognitive tests that occur when a person is retested on the same instrument, or tested more than once on very similar ones. These gains are due to the experience of having taken the test previously; they occur without the examinee being given specific or general feedback on test items, and they do not reflect growth or other improvement on the skills being assessed.





September 2003
Understanding the ABCs of PDAs
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are computer devices that you can carry in the palm of your hand. Often referred to as "Palms" or "Palm Pilots," these devices have been increasingly adopted by individuals from a number of professions worldwide.





August 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Norms Development Details You should Know
Norms Development Details You Should Know When you make the decision to use a test to evaluate a student's performance or progress, it's wise to understand the background of the test and ensure that you are able to translate that background into your theory of speech/language development and the goals of testing. Knowing more about test development also helps you analyze and interpret the results you get from testing and understand why results different from your expectations might have occurred.




June 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Take Time for "Types of Tests" Terms!
In an attempt to ease your burden in having to repeatedly clarify terminology regarding types of tests, this month's Clinical Cafe' focuses on some often-confused terms.




May 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Excellence In Chaotic Times
The whole concept of excellence seems to indicate a "positive standard"—a mark of performance that individuals and groups are compared to on a particular topic or in a specific area. For us as professionals, I think the notion of excellence exists on two levels: a personal excellence and a clinical excellence.




April 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Is it Time to Retire? No, Not You - Your Tests!!
How do test publishers decide when and how much to update a test? How should you decide when to use a new version of a test? Read on!




February 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Age and Grade Equivalents - Truly Equivalent?
This month's "espresso shot" (you may need one to get through all of this!) drills into two particular normative score types—age and grade equivalents. Read on because there's more here than meets the eye!




January 2003
Insights from Pearson Assessments Development
Scores of Scores—The Art of Keeping Them Straight!
With so many ways to report test performance, it's no wonder people are confused about score interpretation! This month's Clinical Cafe is a quick tutorial on normative scores.