This chapter briefly describes some of the methods that test developers and psychometricians have devised to identify item and test bias and some of the challenges they still face. Although it may not be reasonable for classroom teachers to use these methods on a day-to-day basis in constructing tests, the authors argue that it is important for…

The author discusses educational achievement tests and vocational interest blanks, focusing on the subject of sex bias and its elimination. (RP)

IQ tests are used to judge the mental capacities of black Americans, a fact which places a tremendous ethical responsibility on those involved in IQ test research and administration: most IQ test developers and administrators have abrogated this responsibility. (Author/JM)

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)

Contrary to expectations, none of the interactions was significant. Failure to replicate previous studies was attributed to control of examiner bias, superior statistical and experimental controls, and to differences in subject characteristics. The efficacy of modeling films was not conclusively demonstrated. (Author)

A comparison of bilingual Puerto Rican students' scores showed no significant differences between the Full Scale and the Verbal Scale scores on both tests, but significant differences between the Verbal and Performance Scale scores on both tests. Caution in testing bilingual children before determination of bilinguality is recommended. (Author)

This paper is intended to aid interpretation of intelligence tests in light of neurological findings and to suggest future test designs which would reflect cerebral hemisphere specialization. The need is emphasized for improved measures of right brain functioning, especially for Blacks, who exhibit some degree of right hemisphere preference. (SJL)

"A questionnaire concerning the assessment techniques used to evaluate the intellectual level, achievement, and personality of Spanish-speaking children was sent to the directors of pupil personnel services in 16 cities in the United States. The most common tests used were given in English and were not designed for non-English speakers." (Author)

Presents an exercise designed to nullify student claims of subjectivity in the grading of essay examinations. Asks students to grade sample essay questions according to specific criteria. Discusses benefits of the exercise. Provides sample essays and answers, and illustrates the difference between analytical and narrative answers. (RW)

Discusses differential and information processing theories of intelligence and the problems of measuring intelligence. Considers the influence of sociocultural factors on the test performance of individuals and the procedures which have been suggested to reduce bias. (RJC)

This article responds to criticisms made in the Ebmeier and Schmulbach study (EC 221 845) of the Scholastic Aptitude Test as used by talent search programs such as the Center for the Advancement of Academically Talented Youth (CTY). The history of CTY's uses of cutoff scores and alternative interpretations of statistics are discussed. (PB)

This case study of a nonverbal nine year old with physical handicaps examines the ethics and efficacy of using formal assessment instruments with such children, without procedural modifications or qualification of test results. Results of home and classroom observations suggested that the formal assessments did not reflect the student's actual…

A multiple choice test item is identified as flawed if it has no single best answer. In spite of extensive quality control procedures, the administration of flawed items to test-takers is inevitable. Common strategies for dealing with flawed items in conventional testing, grounded in the principle of fairness to test-takers, are reexamined in the…