Aspects of British education which are relevant to the study of world development are examined in this publication. The first three articles analyze respectively various textbooks, examination papers, and syllabi for attitudes, topics, and values presented in them which deal with developing countries in relation to world development issues. In…

Recent empirical evidence concerning sex and racial bias in testing is discussed in terms of three primary sources of bias: (1) content of the test itself, (2) atmosphere in which the test is administered, and (3) the use to which the test results are put. Test content that is demonstrably more difficult for one group than another should be (1)…

The problem of sex differences in interest measurement involves many technical issues and procedures. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the technical problems involved in construction, scoring, and interpretation of interest measures as related to sex differences and to suggest guidelines within these technical issues which…

Published studies of the sampling distribution of chi-square with and without Yates' correction for continuity have been interpreted as discrediting the correction. Yates' correction actually produces a biased chi-square value which in turn yields a better estimate of the exact probability of the discrete event concerned when used in conjunction…

A list of nine recommendations is put forth with regard to standardized achievement tests. Its rationale is based on the need for fair and effective assessment processes that can be used for diagnosing and prescribing for the needs of individual children. (Author/AM)

Three principal sources of sex bias in measurement are defined: the society itself, the extent to which the test content is biased, and biased use of the test results. Intervention seems necessary if equality of opportunity is to be achieved. As one type of intervention, a model is suggested. (Author)

This study investigated auditory discrimination as a function of ethnic group membership within the same socioeconimic status (SES). Subjects were 126 six-year-old students attending schools in a lower SES community. Contrary to previous findings, there were no differences between the groups on the Wepman Test of Auditory Discrimination. (Author)

The reliability and predictive validity of the WISC-R was investigated with 46 Mexican-American children. Approximately a year and a half after the administration of the WISC-R, scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were collected. Results indicated that the WISC-R meets minimum requirements of reliability and predictive validity with…

Recent concern for eliminating Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) sex bias has focused on the current use of separately normed Occupational Scales for the two sexes. This study implemented six basic methods of scale construction to examine the feasibility of combined-sex scales. (Author)

Discusses the importance of fairness in evaluation studies of second-language programs and the potential for misinterpretation of studies which are not program-fair. Strategies designed to overcome this problem from the perspective of standardized tests include: specific tests for each program, program-specific plus program-neutral measures,…

Contends that the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) has some very serious defects. First, it does not test either the ability to speak or to write English. Second, it has strong cultural biases. Third, a relatively large number of right answers can be obtained by guesswork. (SED)

The author, the Chief Executive Officer of the Golden Rule Insurance Company, explains why his company brought the lawsuit against the State of Illinois and the Educational Testing Service and how it was settled. He believes settlement was a step forward and should not be dismissed as a mistake. (JAZ)

This article suggests that mechanical application of Golden Rule-like procedures is inappropriate. The fundamental idea embodied in them, namely, that of taking issues of equity into account in test construction, may reasonably be done without doing violence to test validity. (JAZ)

This is a reprint of a 1986 letter by the former president of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) to New York and California legislators. The author outlines why NCME is opposed to legislative initiatives to extend Golden Rule procedures to tests in those states. (JAZ)