Interpretation of Test Results


Book Description




Diagnosis and Control of Johne's Disease


Book Description

Johne's Disease is a chronic, progressive intestinal disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) that affects primarily ruminant animals. In recent decades there has been growing concern over the lack of effective control of this disease and questions have arisen regarding the possibility that Map infection could be a cause of some cases of Crohn's disease in humans. This report presents a broad outline of the steps that should be taken to control Johne's disease, reduce the spread of Map, and minimize effects of the disease in animals. The report also describes the weaknesses of our current research agenda and provides recommendations for a new research strategy to resolve the question of whether there is a link between Johne's and Crohn's diseases.




Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education, Sixth Edition


Book Description

The only text to comprehensively address the assessment of student learning in a wide variety of settings. Long considered the gold standard for evaluation and testing in nursing education, the sixth edition of this classic text provides expert, comprehensive guidance in the assessment of student learning in a wide variety of settings, as well as the evaluation of instructor and program effectiveness. It presents fundamental measurement and evaluation concepts that will aid nurse educators in the design, critique, and use of appropriate tests and evaluation tools. Important social, ethical, and legal issues associated with testing and evaluation also are explored, including the prevention of cheating and academic policies for testing, grading, and progression. Written by experts in the field of nursing education, Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education features practical advice on the development of test blueprints; creation of all types of test items, including next-generation NCLEX-style items; the assembly, administration, and scoring of tests; test/item analyses and interpretation; evaluation of higher levels of learning; assessment of written assignments; and suggestions for creating tests in online courses and programs. An entire section is devoted to clinical evaluation processes and methods, including the use of simulation for assessment and high-stakes evaluation, clinical evaluation in distance settings, and the use of technology for remote evaluation of clinical performance. The text meets the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator Competency #3: Use Assessment and Evaluation Strategies. NEW TO THE SIXTH EDITION: Expanded coverage of test item analysis and interpretation Expanded coverage of clinical evaluation processes and methods Guidance on how to work with part-time clinical educators and preceptors to ensure that evaluation processes are followed consistently Expanded content on the construction and administration of online tests Tips for adapting test bank items and other item-writing resources Guidelines for the design of academic policies for academic integrity, testing, grading, and progression KEY FEATURES: Describes how to develop test blueprints and assemble, administer, write, and analyze tests Provides guidelines for the selection of standardized tests for a nursing curriculum Details how to evaluate written assignments with sample scoring rubrics Includes a robust ancillary package: Instructor’s Manual (with sample syllabus, course modules, learning activities, discussion questions, assessment strategies, and online resources) and chapter PowerPoint slides Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers




Interpreting Soil Test Results


Book Description

Interpreting Soil Test Results is a practical reference enabling soil scientists, environmental scientists, environmental engineers, land holders and others involved in land management to better understand a range of soil test methods and interpret the results of these tests. It also contains a comprehensive description of the soil properties relevant to many environmental and natural land resource issues and investigations. This new edition has an additional chapter on soil organic carbon store estimation and an extension of the chapter on soil contamination. It also includes sampling guidelines for landscape design and a section on trace elements. The book updates and expands sections covering acid sulfate soil, procedures for sampling soils, levels of nutrients present in farm products, soil sodicity, salinity and rainfall erosivity. It includes updated interpretations for phosphorus in soils, soil pH and the cation exchange capacity of soils. Interpreting Soil Test Results is ideal reading for students of soil science and environmental science and environmental engineering; professional soil scientists, environmental scientists, engineers and consultants; and local government agencies and as a reference by solicitors and barristers for land and environment cases.




Psychological Testing in the Service of Disability Determination


Book Description

The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), for disabled individuals, and their dependent family members, who have worked and contributed to the Social Security trust funds, and Supplemental Security Income (SSSI), which is a means-tested program based on income and financial assets for adults aged 65 years or older and disabled adults and children. Both programs require that claimants have a disability and meet specific medical criteria in order to qualify for benefits. SSA establishes the presence of a medically-determined impairment in individuals with mental disorders other than intellectual disability through the use of standard diagnostic criteria, which include symptoms and signs. These impairments are established largely on reports of signs and symptoms of impairment and functional limitation. Psychological Testing in the Service of Disability Determination considers the use of psychological tests in evaluating disability claims submitted to the SSA. This report critically reviews selected psychological tests, including symptom validity tests, that could contribute to SSA disability determinations. The report discusses the possible uses of such tests and their contribution to disability determinations. Psychological Testing in the Service of Disability Determination discusses testing norms, qualifications for administration of tests, administration of tests, and reporting results. The recommendations of this report will help SSA improve the consistency and accuracy of disability determination in certain cases.




Understanding Test and Exam Results Statistically


Book Description

This book shares the goal of the classic text How to Lie with Statistics, namely, preventing and correcting statistical misconceptions that are common among practitioners, though its focus is on the educational context. It illustrates and discusses the essentials of educational statistics that will help educational practitioners to do this part of their job properly, i.e., without making conceptual mistakes. The examples are cast in the school/classroom contexts, based on realistic rather than theoretical examples. “The strongest aspect of the work or author’s view is that the author can put himself in the shoes of teachers and make the work a very practical guide for teachers and school leaders. As a very experienced educator and researcher, the author knows very well about the knowledge skills that are essential for the professional development of teachers. He is able to explain the statistical and measurement concepts in plain language and with examples that are highly relevant to the target audience. In addition, the author also conveyed an important message to the target audience throughout the work... by pointing out the mistakes and misunderstandings of the interpretation of test scores and measurement design. The author reminds the audience about the importance of proper use of tests and test scores when teachers and school leaders make any education decisions, which has much implication on the professional integrity of teachers and school leaders.” Dr. Joyce Kwan, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong “This book covers all the statistical tools for analyzing educational data and provides examples to explain the ideas. Chapters 10-17 are practical data analysis in educational data that helps readers have a better understanding of the procedure to analyze the data.” Dr. Alpha Ling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong “It looks like a very interesting book with attractive topics and practical problems in educational statistics. Though the topics remind me of the classic book How to Lie with Statistics, this book aims at preventing and correcting statistical misconceptions in educational context.” Dr. Zhu Ying, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore




Lab Values Interpretation


Book Description

Can you decipher the myriad values that you see when the morning lab results come back? - Is this value high or low? - Is it a critical value? - Which ones do you need to be sure get addressed first? -Is your patient at risk if you wait for the physician? Getting familiar with and interpreting laboratory values can be intimidating. There's always the fear of messing things up and not being able to meet the patients' health needs. But, guess what? Familiarizing and interpreting laboratory values don't always have to feel that way. With the right tips, you'll be able to overcome those fears and complete your tasks easily. But First, A Warning: Before we go further, let me make something abundantly clear: This book does not contain a "magic wand" that will bring you instant knowledge without having to do any work. This book provides in-depth knowledge of the full spectrum of lab tests used today. But this only works for those who are willing to apply, take notes, read and re-read the chapters. So with that said, let me tell you... - Take Lab Values from random numbers and turning them into functional concepts that are actually fun ! - Look beyond the numbers and finally understand what the values mean. Learn an intuitive, multi-dimensional approach to assessing multiple lab tests and integrating them into your clinical practice. This is not hype, this is what my audience commonly report




Assessment of Diagnostic Technology in Health Care


Book Description

Technology assessment can lead to the rapid application of essential diagnostic technologies and prevent the wide diffusion of marginally useful methods. In both of these ways, it can increase quality of care and decrease the cost of health care. This comprehensive monograph carefully explores methods of and barriers to diagnostic technology assessment and describes both the rationale and the guidelines for meaningful evaluation. While proposing a multi-institutional approach, it emphasizes some of the problems involved and defines a mechanism for improving the evaluation and use of medical technology and essential resources needed to enhance patient care.




Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education


Book Description

Designated a Doody's Core Title and Essential Purchase! "Without question, this book should be on every nurse educator's bookshelf, or at least available through the library or nursing program office. Certainly, all graduate students studying to be nurse educators should have a copy." --Nursing Education Perspectives "This [third edition] is an invaluable resource for theoretical and practical application of evaluation and testing of clinical nursing students. Graduate students and veteran nurses preparing for their roles as nurse educators will want to add this book to their library." Score: 93, 4 stars --Doody's "This 3rd edition. . . .has again given us philosophical, theoretical and social/ethical frameworks for understanding assessment and measurement, as well as fundamental knowledge to develop evaluation tools for individual students and academic programs." -Nancy F. Langston, PhD, RN, FAAN Dean and Professor Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing All teachers need to assess learning. But often, teachers are not well prepared to carry out the tasks related to evaluation and testing. This third edition of Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education serves as an authoritative resource for teachers in nursing education programs and health care agencies. Graduate students preparing for their roles as nurse educators will also want to add this book to their collection. As an inspiring, award-winning title, this book presents a comprehensive list of all the tools required to measure students' classroom and clinical performance. The newly revised edition sets forth expanded coverage on essential concepts of evaluation, measurement, and testing in nursing education; quality standards of effective measurement instruments; how to write all types of test items and establish clinical performance parameters and benchmarks; and how to evaluate critical thinking in written assignments and clinical performance. Special features: The steps involved in test construction, with guidelines on how to develop test length, test difficulty, item formats, and scoring procedures Guidelines for assembling and administering a test, including design rules and suggestions for reproducing the test Strategies for writing multiple-choice and multiple-response items How to develop test items that prepare students for licensure and certification examinations Like its popular predecessors, this text offers a seamless blending of theoretical and practical insight on evaluation and testing in nursing education, thus serving as an invaluable resource for both educators and students.




Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests


Book Description

Includes information on laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of many adult and pediatric conditions.