Despite the onslaught of editorials and articles on the subject of standardized admissions tests, few people outside the rarefied world of psychometrics-the statistical analysis of test scores-know about the procedures used to develop, score, and evaluate these tests. Rebecca Zwick demystifies these procedures to present a common-sense view of the politics of education. Highly informed and convincingly argued,Fair Game? connects the mechanics of assessment to broader issues raised by test critics and supporters alike.
Do accusations of race- and gender-based test discrimination hold up to the statistics? Do tests favor those who can afford expensive preparatory programs? Can tests reliably measure our nation's educational achievement? Zwick slices through the incendiary rhetoric that surrounds these controversial questions, and offers solid and straightforward recommendations for more equitable educational policy.