It has long been recognized that Black and Latinx students are underrepresented at America's top public universities and thus deprived of access to the institutions with the best graduation rates and career outcomes. Much less understood is whether these students at least have equitable access to their local community colleges, which are supposed…

A factor analysis was conducted for a sample of 200 white and Hispanic children (ages 6-11) using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Results indicated that the two-factor solution was similar for the two groups, but there were notable differences for the three-factor solution, relative measures of "g," and subtest…

The stability of selected indices for detecting differential item performance (item bias), from one randomly equivalent sample to another, is addressed. Some recent research has criticized these indices as too unreliable for utility in measuring bias in achievement test items. Using data from a national testing of the ACT Assessment, however, this…

Past research on interpersonal trust has been conducted almost exclusively on white samples, and the generalizability of these findings to blacks and other minority groups is unclear. To examine the relationship of trust to attitudes and behaviors in college students, 100 black and 131 white students completed a questionnaire packet, which…

This study of 218 White and 132 Black students (mean age=10.3) referred for possible learning disability services found that Black subjects were more likely to exhibit a severe discrepancy between expected and actual achievement levels when using a regression procedure than when using a standard score comparison procedure. (Author/JDD)

This study: (1) tested the effectiveness of the Model of Educational Productivity for predicting the inquiry skill of 17-year-olds; (2) investigated if the prediction of inquiry differed for males and females; and (3) if the prediction of inquiry skill differed for white and nonwhite students. (JN)

This study evaluated the construct validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) with children (ages 8 to 13) having learning disabilities who were either Hispanic (N=120) or Non-Hispanic white (N=120). Factor analyses found that the WISC III has a three factor structure consisting of verbal comprehension,…

This study examines item bias on Forms L and M of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) for 132 Anglo-American and Mexican-American children in grades one through four. Analyses of variance were employed to assess item bias as defined by items x ethnicity interactions. Follow-up analyses were performed using a Bonferroni-type…

Compares the high school varsity sports participation of Black, Hispanic, and White students and college attendance by reanalyzing data from the High School and Beyond Survey. Finds a positive correlation between high school athletic participation and academic achievement as represented by college entrance for all three groups. (FMW)

Presents results of a study to determine whether particular schools in desegregating districts were disproportionate contributors to declines in white enrollment during desegregation. Suggests that proportions of African-American and Hispanic pupils and the implementation of minor desegregation programs are all associated with decreased white…

A kindergarten screening battery of 4 well-validated commercial instruments was used to predict educational placement of 519 white and 183 American Indian children. The battery predicted educational placement equally for both groups, but it correctly identified only 39% of the special education students. (Author/JDD)

To test the language experience hypothesis, the comprehension of high-, moderate-, and low-familiarity idioms was examined in 24 African-American and 24 European-American fifth graders. Results indicated a significant effect of group on idioms rated as low-familiarity. The influence of social and regional culture on idiom comprehension is…

Examines differences among Black, Hispanic, and White doctoral students at four major universities. Black and Hispanic students still experience discrimination. Blacks receive the fewest teaching or research assistantships. Recommends more financial aid, assistantships, and compensatory intervention for minority group doctoral students. (DM)

In summer 1984, a study was conducted to assess the current status of the student body at a two-year college in light of the assertion that two-year colleges are becoming increasingly inaccessible to poor, disadvantaged, and minority students. A sample of 56 students was randomly selected from a population of 310 students attending a small,…

Investigates whether Black and White first-grade students' cognitive growth as marked by teachers is affected by the same factors as those that affect their growth as gauged by the California Achievement Test. Finds that factors are much more closely matched for White children than for Black. (SKC)