Competent Candidates Research Articles

Competition of politicians for wages and office

We examine a model in which two politicians compete for office and for wages. Their remunerations are either set by the public or are offered competitively by the candidates during campaigns. Our main finding shows that competitive wage offers by candidates lead to lower social welfare than remunerations predetermined by the public, since wage competition may lead to higher wage costs or to the election of less competent candidates.

Thinking on the edge: the influence of discussion and statistical data on awarders’ perceptions of borderline candidates in an Angoff awarding meeting

The Angoff method is a widely used procedure for setting pass scores in vocational examinations, in which the awarders estimate the performance of minimally competent candidates (MCCs) on each test item. Within the context of some UK vocational examinations, the procedure consists of two stages: after making the first round of estimates, awarders make final decisions after discussion and after receiving statistical data about candidate performance.

Alternative Approaches to Standard Setting for Licensing and Certification Examinations

In the most frequently used of Angoff's standard setting methodologies, judges develop a common understanding of minimally competent candidates and estimate the percentage of minimally competent candidates who would answer each item of an examination correctly. This method (percentage) and another Angoff method (yes-no) were explored in this study. Four separate groups of judges were provided behavioral descriptors or incidents to use when making ratings. Judges were asked to estimate the percentage of minimally competent candidates who would answer each item of an examination correctly (percentage) or to provide dichotomous ratings that affirmed or disaffirmed that minimally competent candidates would answer each item correctly (yes-no). The groups were allowed to make ratings in two stages: initial ratings without discussion and final ratings after presentation of item difficulty data and discussion with group members. Results indicated that the passing scores based on percentage estimates were stable from initial to final ratings. However, passing scores based on dichotomous (yes-no) ratings declined from initial to final ratings. Apparently, the judges using the yes-no method changed their judgments systematically after provision of item difficulty data and opportunity for discussion. The nature of the differences and the implications for setting passing scores for licensing examinations are discussed.

Ability of Panelists to Estimate Item Performance for a Target Group of Candidates: An Issue in Judgmental Standard Setting

Recent researchers (Impara & Plake, 1998; National Research Council, 1999; Shepard, 1995) have called into question the ability of judges to make accurate item performance estimates for target subgroups of candidates, such as minimally competent candidates. The purpose of this study was to examine both the reliability and accuracy of item performance estimates from an Angoff (1971) standard setting application. Results provide evidence that item performance estimates were both reasonable and reliable. Factors that might have influenced these results are discussed.

Selecting the Qualified: A Standards-Based Teacher Education Admission Process

A standards-based admission process for qualifying caring and competent candidates for teacher preparation is presented. The major elements of the admission process include prerequisite standards that address the knowledge, dispositions, and skills candidates should possess upon entrance to the teacher education program; multiple assessments that evaluate the prerequisite standards; and an admission interview process that involves collaboration of arts and sciences faculty, education faculty, undergraduate students, and professionals from the field. A unique aspect of the admission process is its strong focus on dispositional standards. Emphasis is placed on qualifying future teachers into teacher education programs based upon demonstrated evidence of their meeting defensible and education community supported admission standards.

Consistency of Angoff-Based Predictions of Item Performance: Evidence of Technical Quality of Results From the Angoff Standard Setting Method

Judgmental standard-setting methods, such as the Angoff(1971) method, use item performance estimates as the basis for determining the minimum passing score (MPS). Therefore, the accuracy, of these item peformance estimates is crucial to the validity of the resulting MPS. Recent researchers (Shepard, 1995; Impara & Plake, 1998; National Research Council. 1999) have called into question the ability of judges to make accurate item performance estimates for target subgroups of candidates, such as minimally competent candidates. The propose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-rater consistency of item performance estimates from an Angoff standard setting. Results provide evidence that item pelformance estimates were consistent within and across panels within and across years. Factors that might have influenced this high degree of reliability, in the item performance estimates in a standard setting study are discussed.

Designing and Evaluating Standard-Setting Procedures for Licensure and Certification Tests.

Passing scores for licensure and certification tests are justified by showing that decisions based on the passing score achieve the purposes of the credentialing program while avoiding any serious negative consequences. The standard should be high enough to provide adequate protection for the public, and not so high as to unnecessarily restrict the supply of qualified practitioners or to exclude competent candidates from practicing. This paper begins by examining the intended outcomes of licensure and certification programs and by outlining the interpretive argument that is typically used for written credentialing examinations. Criteria are then developed for evaluating standard-setting methods in terms of how well they serve the goals of protecting the public, maintaining an adequate supply of practitioners, and protecting the rights of candidates. Finally, the criteria are used to evaluate the Angoff method. This analysis identifies two potential sources of bias in the Angoff method, and suggests ways to control these weaknesses.

Corona radiata density as a non-invasive marker of bovine cumulus-corona-oocyte complexes selected for in vitro embryo production

The density of the corona radiata as a marker for the quality of cumulus-corona-oocyte complexes (CCOC's) for in vitro embryo production was tested. The CCOC's in which the corona radiata appeared as a dark rim surrounding the zona pellucida (Group 1) and CCOC's in which the corona had the same density as the rest of the cumulus investment (Group 2) were assessed with respect to nuclear ultrastructure, corona-cumulus expansion and capacity for sustaining embryonic development in vitro. An intermediate Group 3 with characteristics between Groups 1 and 2 was also assessed for in vitro development capacity. The CCOC's in Group 1 were typically meiotically unactivated and presented a nonundulating nuclear envelope. More than half of the CCOC's in Group 2 showed some degree of meiotic activation, and those that were nonactivated displayed “holes” in the nuclear envelope or dilatations of the perinuclear cisterna. The CCOC's in Group 2 were characterized by partial corona-cumulus expansion already at collection. The CCOC's from Groups 1 and 3 sustained embryonic development in vitro at a significantly higher rate than CCOC's from Group 2. It is concluded that CCOC's in which the corona radiata has the same density as the rest of the cumulus investment are less competent candidates for in vitro embryo production.

Comparison of Methods for Combining the Minimum Passing Levels for Individual Items into a Passing Score for a Test

The purpose of this study was to compare several methods for determining a passing score on an examination from the individual raters' estimates of minimal pass levels for the items. The methods investigated differ in the weighting that the estimates for each item receive in the aggregation process. An IRT‐based simulation method was used to model a variety of error components of minimum pass levels. The results indicate little difference in estimated passing scores across the three methods. Less error was present when the ability level of the minimally competent candidates matched the expected difficulty level of the test. No meaningful improvement in passing score estimation was achieved for a 50‐item test as opposed to a 25‐item test; however, the RMSE values for estimates with 10 raters were smaller than those for 5 raters. The results suggest that the simplest method for aggregating minimum pass levels across the items in a test–adding them up–is the preferred method.

GORBACHEV'S REFORMS: THE SOVIET ELECTIONS OF 1989

The article provides a discussion on reforms in Soviet elections during the term of Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. It provides a historical overview of the initiation of reforms in Soviet elections during the terms of Joseph Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev. The article describes the significant electoral changes that occurred under Gorbachev's term including the proper use of ballots, public support for competent candidates, and elections akin to Soviet practices. An overview of the reforms in Soviet elections is also provided.

Correction for Guessing and Nedelsky's Standard-Setting Method: Are they Compatible?

Combining the Livingston and Zieky (1982) correction to a cut score for an examination using correction-for-guessing scoring is reasonable if minimally competent candidates (MCCs) omit only those items for which they cannot eliminate any of the options. Otherwise, the corrected cut-score will be overly harsh, resulting in additional errors in classifications. In this study, omit behavior on a 48-item Mathematics Achievement Test of an empirically established group of MCCs was compared to the predictions of five expert judges. The results suggest that this group of examinees tended to respond to the items with an omit pattern similar to that predicted by the judges.

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN GERONTOLOGY

Abstract If training programs with older participants can be implemented and evaluated through Title IV‐A of the Older Americans Act, the gerontological community can compare the relative merits of these types of programs with the more typical ones that train younger adults to serve older persons. An emphasis on older participants may be particularly relevant in the 1980s, when career training for younger adults in the human service occupations appears to be less promising. Older participants are more likely to complete training programs and enter part‐time or volunteer work. Studies have found older participants to be competent trainees, effective workers, and likely candidates to improve self‐esteem. However, much work needs to be done in the area of program evaluation. The Institute of Gerontology at the University of the District of Columbia has developed and implemented three training programs with older participants. Two future objectives of the Institute are to evaluate the programs with more rigor...

Modern German Sculpture

ANY ATTEMPT to make a discriminate selection of the most significant German sculptors of the twentieth century from the long list of competent candidates, must, of necessity, leave many out in the cold who deserve more generous critical hospitality. If, therefore, space restrictions limit the bulk of our observations to the work of such widely known sculptors as Lehmbruck, Barlach, Kolbe, Gerhardt Marcks, Gustav Wolff, Belling, and to a lesser degree, Fiori, Haller, Renee Sintenis and Matare, you are not to assume that we are blind to the talents of Herbert Gerbe, Emy Roeder, Edwin Scharff, Ludwig Gies, Alexander Zschokke, Milly Steger, Arno Breker, Richard Scheibe, Albiker, and the singularly able and too little known Swiss-German (living in Zurich) Hermann Hubacher, whose sculpture, though less sensuous than his better known compatriot Hermann Haller, is more ruggedly architectonic.