Question

Many colleges and universities use standardized tests as part of the admission process for incoming students. The use of these tests is controversial and psychologist research ways in which these test both help and hurt students. Provide an argument for or against the use of standardized tests in the admissions process using the following terms. In your argument, be sure to provide an explanation of each term or concept. a. Achievement versus Aptitude tests b. Reliability of standardized tests c. Validity of standardized tests d. Stereotype e. Threat Standardization

Answer 1

Standardized tests can provide reliable and valid information about a student's abilities, but there are concerns about their reliability and validity. Stereotype threat and the use of standardized tests can perpetuate stereotypes and create a sense of threat for students.

Step-by-step explanation:

A standardized test is a measure of a student's achievement or aptitude in a particular subject area. Achievement tests are designed to assess what a student has learned in a specific subject, while aptitude tests measure a student's potential or ability to succeed in a particular field without prior knowledge or training. Standardized tests can provide reliable and valid information about a student's abilities and help colleges make informed admission decisions.

However, there are concerns about the reliability and validity of standardized tests. Reliability refers to the consistency of scores obtained from the test and can be measured using methods like test-retest reliability or internal consistency. Validity refers to how well the test measures what it claims to measure. Content validity, criterion validity, and construct validity are important aspects of determining the validity of a test.

While standardized tests can provide valuable information, they can also perpetuate stereotypes and create a sense of threat for students. Stereotype threat occurs when individuals feel at risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about their group, which can negatively affect their performance on the test. Standardization refers to the process of ensuring consistency in test administration, scoring, and interpretation, which is important for fairness and comparability.

Answer 2

In the use of standardized test by many universities and colleges, they tend to have a particular set of people which they tend to look towards admiting into their various school. I am of the opinion that using the standardized test helps in admitting the right set of people.

For example, achievement of people dffers from one individual to another. In order to get the right set of acheiving students, standardized test would be used unlike aptitude test that everyone could pass if he or she cheat during the exams.

The standardized test tends to be reliable as a result of different individuals not writing the same test at a particular period of time. Also, the validity helps to put a time frame into it knowing fully well that someone that performed exceedingly well this year might fail the same test in 2 years time as a result of lack of preparation.

The sterotype is also not encouraging but is the only way to ensure that all candidates is considered equally without recourse to his or her race or sex.

lastly, regarding to the threat standardization, the test also helps to prepare the would be students on what his or her expectation should be when finally admitted. That is, it hardly encourage lazeness. In summary, standardized test should always be encouraged to be used by the colleges and universities though efforts should be made to improve of the methods of administring it and the questions normally set in the exams.

Step-by-step explanation: