The effect of introducing third graders to the use of separate answer sheets on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) was investigated. Classes of third graders were administered 11 ITBS subscales under one of the following formats: (a) using separate answer sheets without prior practice; (b) using separate answer sheets with practice sessions; or (c) marking answers directly in the test booklet. Students using separate answer sheets without practice were found to score significantly lower than students answering in the test booklet. When the two separate answer sheet conditions were compared, the group with prior practice scored significantly higher than the group without practice. The largest differences occurred with the lower-ability students in this sample, suggesting that these students were both the most adversely affected by the use of separate answer sheets without practice, and the most helped by the practice sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Educational Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
