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Melvin R. Novick Papers

 Collection
Identifier: RG99.0229

  • Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The papers reflect Novick's professional activity, publications, research, teaching, and travel in educational and psychological testing. Specific interests included Bayesian statistical methods, computer-assisted data analysis (CADA), and psychometrics. At Iowa, Novick served on the Hancher Auditorium Review Committee. He was a member, fellow, or officer of the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Statistical Association, and the Psychometric Society. Novick's research included contacts with U.S. Department of Defense agencies. Correspondents in Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States include Allan Birnbaum, Hans F. Cronbach, Morris H. DeGroot, Stephen E. Fienberg, W.J. Hall, Ronald K. Hambleton, Edwin P. Hollander, P.H. Jackson, D.V. Lindley, H.G. Macintosh, Irv Molenaar, Kazno Shigemasu, Robert L. Thorndike, and Hiroshi Watanabe. The Novick Papers are largely correspondence arranged in chronological order, with some miscellaneous folders and folders on specific professional and other bodies. Beginning with January 1974, each month of correspondence is preceded by a calendar listing sender, recipient, and subject or key word for many letters.

Dates

  • Creation: 1962-1986

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Biographical / Historical

Melvin Robert Novick was born in Chicago, Illinois, September 21, 1932, and died in Princeton, New Jersey, May 20, 1986. His degrees were B.A., 1957, B.S., 1959, and M.A., 1959, all at Roosevelt University, and Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1963. Novick's positions included the Educational Testing Service (ETS), 1963-1970, and the University of Iowa from 1970 to his death. From 1970 to 1974 he had a joint appointment with the American College Testing Program (ACT). At Iowa he was professor of education and statistics.

Extent

11.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

University of Iowa professor of education, 1974-1982. Professor of psychology and quantitative foundations/statistics and actuarial science, 1982-86.

Method of Acquisition

These papers were transferred to the University of Iowa Libraries from Mrs. Melvin Novick in 1986 and 1987.

Related Materials

Journal of Educational Statistics. V. 12, n. 1 (Spring 1987), features several articles about Novick's life and career, including Leonard S. Feldt and Robert V. Hogg. "Melvin R. Novick: Recollections of Two Iowa Colleagues."

Folder, "Novick, Melvin," in Faculty and Staff Vertical Files Collection (RG01.0015.003)

Records of the College of Education (RG09.0001.001)

Author
Processed by Julia Waggoner, April 1989; Earl M. Rogers, February 1997
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242
319-335-5921