Aren't all academic tests biased?

Question

This is not meant to be a trick question, but couldn't it be argued that all academic tests are biased because those who are equipped to do well on them-regardless of the reason-are more likely to do well on them than those who are not as well equipped, including the ability to cheat on said test, since although the test creators may not predict this as an intervening variable, the purported measure that the test is supposed to determine, is not necessarily a reliable predictor of what the actual test measures, and although some people might say this contradicts "test theory," test theory is, after all, just a theory?

Answer 1

Let's see if I have read this correctly. "Tests are biased because some do better on them than others." This would only be called bias if certain groups tended to do better than other groups. "Tests are biased because some people cheat and this is an intervening variable." If a person has cheated, the test has measured nothing and the score is worthless--which has nothing to do with bias. "The purported measure that the test is supposed to determine is not necessarily a reliable predictor of what the actual test measures." You have mixed validity with reliability. The test is valid if it measures what it purports to measure. One way to determine this is to see if it correlates highly with other tests which also purports to measure the same thing. Test developers report results of these studies in their technical manual. Reliability refers to whether the test taker is likely to get the same score if he or she were to retake the test or a parallel form of the test. Again, the test developer reports results of test-retest reliability results in their technical manual.

Answer 2

This is like asking if all athletic events are biased. If there is a race and the winner has practiced more and is in better physical shape because of it, does that make the race biased?

If there is a boxing match and the boxer who has trained the most and is in the best shape wins, does that make the match biased?

Before a test anyone has the opportunity to study and if you choose not to that does not make the test biased. It is up to the individual whether to be prepared or not.

Answer 3

ive always felt that way about standardized tests like the SAT's. If you dont do as well as a college expects, that does not measure your intelligence. I know tons of smart people that got good grades, have a million community service hours, they work, etc and just because their SATs arent perfect, they dont get into the top schools. Thats not really fair. I wish tests were more like normal ones we get in school, like midterms and final exams. They measure intelligence way better.

Answer 4

YES