Suggests that educational testing is not only big business in this country, it is also a big game. The "Testing Game", as it is called, refers to an ongoing series of transitions which progress to well-defined, predictable outcomes. (Author/AM)

A report of a special panel, appointed by the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association, which investigates the use of ability tests with disadvantaged students in the schools, focusing especially on intelligence tests. Various sections present a discussion of the theoretical rationale of human abilities underlying the…

This paper discusses some of the problems posed by external testing, including the social and racial complexities and the serious intellectual issues raised by the nature of a "standardized" examination. It is argued that these and other problems are likely to intensify to an unprecedented degree during the next several years as a result of…

A defense is presented against the criticism that school psychologists who critically evaluate the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) are biased (TM 504 174). (MH)

This Digest overviews legal challenges in five areas of test use for decision-making in schools: ability tracking, placement in special education classes, test scores as college admissions criteria, test disclosure, and teacher competency testing. Cases illustrating these challenges are described and include: Hobson v. Hansen (1967), Moses v.…

The author attacks not only the racism inherent in existing IQ tests, but the very concept of a standardized intelligence test, which, he asserts, lacks certain basic criteria of consistency and validity necessary to a scientific device. Part of a theme issue on intelligence. (SJL)

Argues that the basic problem with standardized tests to test Mexican American students is that they lack "ethnic validity": they do not accurately or appropriately account for cultural, linguistic, or experiential ethnic differences. (Author/JM)

Commonly used standardized intelligence scales are free from the inherent flaws that allegedly result in discriminatory assessment. Issues of internal validity, predictive validity, and examiner effects are discussed. (Author/JKS)

THE PURPOSE OF TESTING IN SEASONAL AND MIGRANT FARMERS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS NOT FOR MEASUREMENT BUT FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE DEGREE AND INTENSITY OF HELP NEEDED. TESTS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TEACHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER CLASS BEGINS WHEN POSSIBLE. THEY SHOULD BE SCORED CAREFULLY, AND THE RESULTS ANALYZED AND INTERPRETED. THE AUTHOR…

The Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices and a Piagetian battery were administered to a sample of hearing-impaired elementary school children under six different conditions. Results indicated that scores varied as a function of the degree and type of feedback or elaboration. (JKS)

A look at the history of intelligence testing suggests that those most closely allied with intelligence testing were often least able to see the larger issues. Input is needed from those who have examined broader currents in the history and sociology of ideas. New ideas must be cultivated to avoid redundancy in the field. (SLD)

This paper provides a historical review of national standardized testing and its relation to ethnic and racial minorities. In the pre-World War I period, psychological testing was conducted on the large masses of immigrants that were arriving in the U.S., and on black and white army draftees. Generally these tests showed that black draftees and…

A qualitative evaluation of the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) as implemented in a Colorado public school system is presented. The evaluation relies heavily on perceptions of participating administrators, and is very positive. (JKS)

Three do-it-yourself intelligence test handbooks, five mini-textbooks, and five consumer protection guides are reviewed. Each type of publication reflects different social ideologies and communicates favorable, cautiously neutral, or critical messages, respectively, about testing. Psychologists Jules Leopold, Martin Lutterjohan, and Victor…

Four topics were emphasized during this conference on testing problems: (1) the selection of appropriate score scales for tests; (2) the experimental approach to the measurement of human motivation; (3) trends in public opinion polling since 1948 and their probable effects on predictions of the 1952 election; and (4) techniques for developing…