Module 2 Lesson 4: Systematic Reviews

Question 1

What is the most recent edition of the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY)?

Answer 1

Twentieth Mental Measurements Yearbook (Carlson, Geisinger, & Jonson, 2017)

Question 2

When was the first edition of the MMY published?

Answer 2

1938

Question 3

What did Buros originate?

Answer 3

O. K. Buros originated the series: often referred to simply as “Buros” or “Buros’s MMY.” Buros supervised preparation of the first eight editions in the series. After his
death in 1978, the work was carried on by the Buros Center for Testing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A new
edition of MMY is published every two or three years.

Question 4

What topics does an MMY review typically cover?

Answer 4

1. test’s purpose is identified
2. description of the test materials - number and types of items, time limit, mode of administration, number of levels and forms, types of scoring, and manuals
   available for the test. The review then gives information about the test’s validity, reliability, and norms
3. often concludes with a recommendation about possible uses of the test—or a recommendation that the test not be used

Question 5

Does the MMY follow a rigid format?

Answer 5

No.

Question 6

What are the six useful indexes of the MMY?

Answer 6

1. Index of Test Titles
2. Index of Acronyms
3. Classified Subject Index
4. A Publisher’s Directory and Index
5. Index of Names
6. Score Index

Question 7

Index of Test Titles

Answer 7

Alphabetic listing of official test titles

Question 8

Index of Acronyms

Answer 8

List of Common Abbreviations for Tests

Question 9

Classified Subject Index

Answer 9

Tests within very broad topical categories

Question 10

A Publisher’s Directory and Index

Answer 10

names and addresses of all publishers whose tests are reviewed

Question 11

Index of Names

Answer 11

all individuals who are test authors or reviewers or who are in references included in the volume

Question 12

Score Index

Answer 12

list of all scores generated by the
tests reviewed in the volume

Question 13

What are the two ways in which Buros’ Mental Measurements Yearbook reviews can be accessed through?

Answer 13

• EBSCOhost - the name of a test is
entered, and, if it has been reviewed, the reviews will appear. If a library
subscribes to this product, a Buros
review can be accessed for no charge.
• The Buros Center for Testing also allows for online accession of Buros test reviews but imposes a fee for use of this service.

Question 14

Test Critiques

Answer 14

a series of volumes devoted to
test reviews, the most recent being Volume XI (Keyser, 2004), the first dating back to 1984. The reviews in Test Critiques are much the same in scope and character as those in MMY. The publisher (Pro-Ed) does not plan for a new volume in the foreseeable future, so this source will become less useful.

Question 15

What are some other sources of test reviews?

Answer 15

1. Reviews of tests of particular interest in some subfield of psychology - a school psychology journal may include a review of a test relevant for school psychologists; a neuropsychology journal for neuropsychologists; and so on
2. Test Critique