All biases are not created equally. In fact, some individuals have difficulties identifying the biases that indirectly influence their daily thoughts and behaviors. With this in mind, I would like to consider the assessment tools which are used to measure hundreds of thousands of little boys and girls, all of which come from many multicultural populations.
The Nature and Effect of Test Bias on Multicultural Populations
In order to matriculate through the public education system that has been set before us, we have all experienced some form of standardized skillset assessment. They are inescapable. Standardized testing is the foundation of the public school structure. Yielding an unfair opportunity of assessment of children from multicultural …show more content…
For instance, an assessment administrator may use what is identified as the standard pronunciation of the word “ambulance”, which may not sound familiar to an African American child when produced in this manner (van Kuelen, et.al., 1998). The inability to recognize this particular pronunciation does not equate to the child’s lack of knowledge of an ambulance, but displays a phonological difference between the child and assessment administrator.
Grammatical Bias
A double negative may be presented in the elicited response of a Spanish speaking individual completing an assessment task of describing a picture. The response given could be perceived as a grammatical error by the assessment administrator, if they are not aware of the varying differences of Hispanic language features. The assumption that the individual’s grammar is culturally based on the same rules of Standard American English is an example of grammatical bias.
Vocabulary …show more content…
Some assessments call for its administrator to read the stimuli one time only. What happens when the individual being assessed is fully capable of providing the desired response with one repetition of the stimuli or simply more time recommended by the assessment? This may give an inaccurate depiction of an individual’s ability, potentially resulting in an inaccurate diagnosis. Assuming an individual is incapable of completing a task that has only been administered or observed in one manner is an example of direction/format
The Nature and Effect of Test Bias on Multicultural Populations
In order to matriculate through the public education system that has been set before us, we have all experienced some form of standardized skillset assessment. They are inescapable. Standardized testing is the foundation of the public school structure. Yielding an unfair opportunity of assessment of children from multicultural …show more content…
For instance, an assessment administrator may use what is identified as the standard pronunciation of the word “ambulance”, which may not sound familiar to an African American child when produced in this manner (van Kuelen, et.al., 1998). The inability to recognize this particular pronunciation does not equate to the child’s lack of knowledge of an ambulance, but displays a phonological difference between the child and assessment administrator.
Grammatical Bias
A double negative may be presented in the elicited response of a Spanish speaking individual completing an assessment task of describing a picture. The response given could be perceived as a grammatical error by the assessment administrator, if they are not aware of the varying differences of Hispanic language features. The assumption that the individual’s grammar is culturally based on the same rules of Standard American English is an example of grammatical bias.
Vocabulary …show more content…
Some assessments call for its administrator to read the stimuli one time only. What happens when the individual being assessed is fully capable of providing the desired response with one repetition of the stimuli or simply more time recommended by the assessment? This may give an inaccurate depiction of an individual’s ability, potentially resulting in an inaccurate diagnosis. Assuming an individual is incapable of completing a task that has only been administered or observed in one manner is an example of direction/format