| Americans are probably the most tested, measured, sorted and classified people who have ever lived. In the United States today, test-taking has become a major survival skill. Despite the importance of test's effects on the lives of most Americans, they have never learned some of the basic rules of test-taking. This descriptive study was designed to measure the effects of test-wiseness training on a military population. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there would be any difference in test-sophistication and test-taking attitude after treatment and whether test-taking training would have any effect on the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination. This study also examined the relationship between (1) test-taking attitude and locus of control, and (2) race, test-wiseness and the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination.;A pretest - posttest design was selected for measuring the difference in treatment and control subject's scores. The statistical analysis consisted of a general linear model for analysis of variance for unequal sample size. An analysis of co-variance was used to statistically adjust the distribution of scores with respect to the initial level of the subject's test sophistication.;The following findings were determined at the .05 level of significance: (1) a significant difference did exist in test-wiseness scores between treatment group and control group pretest to posttest measure based upon treatment; (2) there was a significant change in test-taking attitude of subjects prior to test-taking training and after test-taking training; (3) there was a significant relationship between measure of attitude and locus of control; (4) there was a significant relationship between the individual's score on the test of test-wiseness and his/her score on the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination; (5) no significant differences exist on the scores on Expert Field Medical Badge Examination from having had the workshop on test-taking strategies; (6) there were no significant differences in the scores on the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination for various races; and (7) there were significant differences in test-wiseness scores (level of test sophistication) for various races.;The population examined consisted of eighty-three enlisted servicemembers in the United States Army at Ft. Riley, Kansas who were eligible to take the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination. Instruments of measurements included a demographic data collection tool, a shortened version of Rotter's Locus of Control, three attitudinal constructs, a test of test-wiseness, and the written section of the Expert Field Medical Badge Examination. |
