This used to be a slightly hot issue in the 1970s (I recall episodes of Good Times and Diff'rent Strokes that tackled this topic.)

Do you think that standardized testing can be culturally biased, in terms of using examples to ask a question?

For example:
If test questions use words like "bidet," "carriage house," "stables," "veranda," is this setting inner city kids up to score lower -- simply because they may not understand the terminology, or relate to having a carriage house?

I know from personal experience that they can be. In college, one of my professors gave our class of middle class white kids an IQ test that was geared more for people of the inner city. Most of us scored like idiots. Of course it makes a difference in some cases.

I never understood that. Unless a test is asking questions that are racist (hateful), I just don't see how it can be considered racist just because it uses examples that certain classes can't personally relate to. Barring the "terminology" angle that someone may not understand, I don't see how a poor kid presented with math problem that is presented around the idea of a "summer home" can be so distracting. These tests require you to use your imagination when it comes to plot.

stonestatic wrote:

I never understood that. Unless a test is asking questions that are racist (hateful), I just don't see how it can be considered racist just because it uses examples that certain classes can't personally relate to. Barring the "terminology" angle that someone may not understand, I don't see how a poor kid presented with math problem that is presented around the idea of a "summer home" can be so distracting. These tests require you to use your imagination when it comes to plot.

These kinds of tests are about comprehension. The key to comprehension is familiarity with the relevant subject. If a kid from a lower income family can't relate to the question about a rich persons dilemma, then he can be distracted by it and not do well.

I think they definitely can be. I also think that they don't take things into account. It doesn't always make a difference, but it can, esp. when language is a barrier.

They can be culturally 'biased' in their inquiries, sure. I don't know if I would immediately interchange that with racism. More classist than racist.

It is just my guess that standardized tests don't include terms that may elude certain demographics. Plus, I would think that once a teacher finds out they exist, he/she is teaching those terms the next year anyway.

I could go on and on about how teachers teach to the test more than the students. But that would be me getting on a soap box...but trust, it happens.