Deck 15: Issues in Ability Testing

Question 1

When a test makes systematic errors in measurement, ________ exists.

A) discrimination
B) unfairness
C) bias
D) all of the above

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Recent research suggests that ability tests _________ the performance of minorities.

A) under-represent
B) over-represent
C) under-predict
D) over-predict

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In general, it has been found that, on ability tests

A) children from a middle-class background score higher than children from a lower-class background
B) whites score lower than minorities
C) males usually score higher than females
D) all of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A score on an intelligence test

A) is a fixed indicator of inborn capacity
B) is a sample of present behavior
C) is likely to reflect genetics over environment
D) cannot change for an individual over time

Question 5

A purely pictorial test is likely to be

A) culture-free
B) culture-fair
C) culture-reduced
D) culture-loaded

Question 6

When a test shows significant correlations with relevant criteria for blacks, but nonsignificant correlations when used for whites, ________ exists.

A) fairness
B) differential validity
C) reverse discrimination
D) bias

Question 7

________ is a characteristic of numbers; whereas ________ is a characteristic of one's actions.

A) Fairness; bias
B) Bias; discrimination
C) Bias; fairness
D) Discrimination; fairness

Question 8

A value judgment regarding actions taken as a result of test scores concerns test

A) discrimination
B) fairness
C) bias
D) all of the above

Question 9

A test which deals with objects, beliefs or lore peculiar to one culture can be called

A) culture-reduced
B) culture-loaded
C) culture-fair
D) culture-free

Question 10

Group x items interactions are often used to assess

A) fairness
B) discrimination
C) bias
D) prejudice

Question 11

Raven's Progressive Matrices, generally considered a culture-reduced test, produces

A) scores of whites and minorities that are similar
B) scores of whites that are generally lower than the scores of minorities
C) scores of minorities that are generally lower than the scores of whites
D) scores of minorities that are generally higher than the scores of whites

Question 12

Y = a + bx is the

A) bias equation
B) slope-bias equation
C) regression equation
D) regressive equation

Question 13

The variation in scores on intelligence tests can be accounted for solely by

A) hereditability
B) genetics
C) environmental factors
D) none of the above

Question 14

When a test makes systematic errors in measuring a specific characteristic or attribute

A) bias in measurement exists
B) bias in prediction exists
C) fairness is the major issue
D) both bias in measurement and fairness are issues

Question 15

Differences in intercepts for different groups on a test could reflect

A) differences in test validity
B) bias toward one of the groups since scores reflect systematic differences in criterion scores
C) differences in means on a test but not in criterion measures
D) differential prediction

Question 16

______ twins have an identical genetic inheritance.

A) Dizygotic
B) Fraternal
C) Monozygotic
D) Trizygotic

Question 17

Scientific methods can be used to determine _________.

A) fairness
B) discrimination
C) values
D) bias

Question 18

One possible explanation for why groups might receive systematically different scores on tests is that

A) there are real mean differences in the attributes being measured
B) the content of the test is familiar to some groups and not to others
C) the method in which a test is presented differs
D) all of the above

Question 19

One of the best general strategies for reducing the effects of test bias is to

A) employ multiple methods of assessment
B) change the content of the test
C) use the "Golden Rule" during test development
D) give alternative non-verbal tests

Question 20

The hypothesis that test score differences can best be understood in terms of differences between cultures of different test subgroups is supported by

A) hereditarians
B) geneticists
C) extremists
D) environmentalists

Question 21

In the authors' view, the correlational link between cognitive ability and socioeconomic status

A) is probably causal in both directions
B) is causal in that high socioeconomic status causes high cognitive ability
C) is causal in that high cognitive ability causes high socioeconomic status
D) is not well established

Question 22

Project Head Start was started

A) to reduce the gap between rich and poor Americans in educational opportunities
B) on the basic premise that intelligence is modifiable
C) in the 1960's by the federal government
D) all of the above

Question 23

Recent research suggests that genetic factors are important determinants of which of the following

A) attitudes
B) intelligence
C) personality
D) all of the above