Application of the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment Adaptive Behavior Inventory for Children and Estimated Learning Potential measures for 149 White, 128 Black, 125 Hispanic, and 122 Native American Papago students sharply reduced the number and percentages of children eligible for mild mental retardation classification in all…

The article describes the background of Larry P. v. Riles, a class action law suit involving disproportionate placement of minorities in classes for the educable mentally retarded in California, and outlines the specific findings and remedies underlying issues, including stigmatization of being classified retarded and the nature/nurture debate.…

Investigated item bias on six subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised for four sociocultural groups (N=950), Anglo, Black, Chicano, and Native American Papago (NAP). Results of statistical indexes indicated no or negligible bias against Blacks and Chicanos. Found evidence suggesting bias in some verbal scales with NAPs.…

The paper describes different concepts of bias in tests and presents data on the possible effects of using sociocultural background in the interpretation of standardized test results. Five different definitions of the concept of test bias are explored: equality of means among groups, equal proportions, fairness in predictions, social utility…

Overrepresentation of minorities in special education classes and bias in IQ tests that allegedly underlies such placements are discussed in regard to the use of psychological tests for educational classification. Concludes that the use of tests, rather than the tests themselves, leads to discriminatory placement. Suggests solutions to this…

The convergent and discriminant validity of a wide range of cognitive and social competence measures were investigated with 400 students (7-11) stratified by race (white and black) and educational placement (regular and special education for mildly handicapped students). The majority of special education students were classified as learning…

Recent court decisions concerning the demographics of placement of students in various program tracks are reviewed in three articles. Focus is on special cases involving charges of overrepresentation of minorities in programs for the educably mentally retarded. Implications for school psychology and special education are discussed. (TJH)

Test bias, assumed as equal regression lines between two different tests for different populations was investigated to predict Metropolitan Achievement Tests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised. Subjects were 1,040 children in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9: Anglo American, Black, Mexican American, and Native American Papago. (JKS)

Claims of overrepresentation of minority students in special education programs and the myths and distortions surrounding these claims are the topic of this study. The findings of a report on this topic performed by the National Academy of Sciences is discussed, noting that although the report focused on the right question (why is…

Two psychometric approaches for the investigation of item bias were employed to examine the performance of four sociocultural groups on six subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Revised (WISC-R). The sample of 950 students was from Pima County, Arizona. One approach involved the comparison of the psychometric indices of…

Issues surrounding the concept of nonbiased assessment, particularly with economically disadvantaged minority students, are analyzed. The legal requirements are focused on thorough discussion of litigation and legislation. The second section explores research on the use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). Research…

The generalizability of norms and concurrent validity of the Adaptive Behavior Inventory for Children (ABIC) was investigated with samples of 482 first-, third-, and fifth-grade children stratified by sociocultural group (White, Black, Hispanic, and Native American Papago). (Author)

Random samples of black and white EMR (Educable Mentally Retarded) students (N=69) from defendant districts in Marshall v. Georgia were compared on numerous variables related to preplacement evaluation, classification and placement in special education, and reevaluation. On nearly all variables black and white mildly mentally retarded (MMR)…

The paper discusses the various problems related to the current concerns with nonbiased assessment, with particular emphasis on the placement of minority group students in classes for the mildly retarded. Sections address the following topics: special education litigation; underlying issues in court cases (including the meaning of IQ test results,…

Findings from the Iowa Assessment Project are examined regarding the assessment and use of information on adaptive behavior and sociocultural background in decisions about students with mild mental retardation. Background aspects reviewed include terminology regarding mild retardation; research, litigation, and legislation on the topic during the…