Racism in standardized testing

Recently I was talking to an old classmate of mine at one of the universities where I studied. This was in a foreign country. To gain acceptance, you had to pass a so-called "standardized test" that was supposed to measure IQ. I remembered one of the questions it asked when he mentioned.

There was picture of a cup. And a series of pictures next to it, from which we were to select the item associated with it. In this case, one of the pictures was a saucer, which was supposed to be the right answer.

Turns out in that specific region, black people (poor AND rich) used a cup when they drank coffee. But not a saucer. This was simply a cultural thing. So they were already at an obvious disadvantage that had nothing to do with their IQ. The test was later thrown out because many similar because of the many culturally biased questions. But this type of bias is present in ALL standardized testing.

Aptitude tests have nothing to do with tutoring. They have to do with culture. This is why somebody like Barack Obama, who was raised in a white culture, will do better than any other black person. But, in general, all questions in these tests are culturally biased almost by definition.

Standardized testing is a white supremacist's favorite weapon. White supremacism works like this: you start with the premise that white people are superior, and then they cherry-pick any data they can that supports your pre-conceived dogma and ignore everything that contradicts it.

There is no such thing as "race" in biology, anthropology, genetics or... in any science. As few as two genes can determine skin color. Neither of which has anything to do with behavior or intelligence or abilities. Compare that to eye-color, which requires several dozen genes. Despite that, nobody talks of a blue-eyed "race" vs a dark-eye "race".

So NOTHING in genetics makes somebody who just happens to be of dark skin more propense to fail a "standardized" test more often, or to commit more crimes, or to act in any particular way...

Speaking of crimes, that's the white supremacist's SECOND favorite weapon. It is true that there are more black people in prison than white people. But we have shown before that this is most likely due to systemic racism. We showed proof in another thread that black people are seven times more likely to be stopped and arrested than white people, and six to seven times more likely to be falsely convicted of crimes like murder. Despite the fact that MOST terrorist acts are committed by white supremacists.
http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/what-does-critical-race-theory-teach.589535/

BTW, I've seen that more self-proclaimed (I'm not throwing around insults. They say so themselves) white supremacists have been signing up to this forum. I am not interested in debating with them. They are too far gone. My only purpose is to offset the propaganda with which they will very likely want to feed uninformed vulnerable individuals.

 

Oh boy now the SAT's are white supremacy. Better tell that to the Asians who dominate those test. Weird how the vastly different culture of Asians doesn't hold them back on the evil white man's standardize test. Kind of blows a giant hole on this entire thread's premise.

 

In Oregon, they did away with HS competency tests because blacks did so badly.
That's your solution. Do away with any test which demonstrates White superiority.

If you can't measure it, it doesn't exist.

 

So, what country are you talking about?

 

Actually thats a myth as well, typically 1st and 2nd generation immigrants have a distinct advantage over our native borns, by the 5th generation immigrants lose the said advantage and test on par with everyone else. This is true of Africans, islanders, Asians, etc. Becoming Americanized dumbs the gene pool down.
Turns out Asians just had more 1st and second generations during those testing periods sampled that fit your bias. Once we get to their 5th or so generation they will test on par with the rest of us.

For instance my cousin came over and found our schools to be easy. He aced MIT, and now makes 250+K a year developing at Amazon.


The Immigrant Advantage
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/opinion/sunday/the-immigrant-advantage.html

 

Liberal and Progressive types used to be wildly in favor of standardized testing, so people in poor or humble circumstances who were bright could have a path to success. That is pretty much the history of post war America. This turn against standardized testing is fairly new, and extremely stupid. They're not in favor of replacing one test with a new, better test, they just want to get rid of testing all together. I certainly don't believe Golem's story about a cup and saucer picture being part of any IQ test. That's simply BS. When someone starts out their argument with an obvious fake story, it's hard to pay attention to the rest of the argument. Luckily in this case, no argument was made.

But people who share Golem's uninformed opinion are in charge it seems, as we've witnessed the current Ivy League dump of standardized testing in order to curate their admissions to non academic standards.

 

Heh, seems no ones smarter then you huh, even the test givers themselves that found the tests flawed.

 

Weird comment that doesn't address what I wrote, but I'm not arguing that the tests are perfect; obviously they're not. But over decades (well about a century of standardized testing) they have proven their utility time and time again. If you don't want standardized testing, what do you want to replace it with?

 

Bias on standardized testing will account for some variation in scores, but it's not enough to skew the results. What is more likely is a combination of those being tested not caring about academic learning, not having access to adequate educational opportunities, or a combination of both.

America isn't going to get smarter by removing standardized testing or tweaking them so that the results equal out.

 

Hmm...its almost like it has to do with culture and not racism....

 

Have they?
Imo they have excluded alot of talent from fine individuals iv met that get anxiety taking tests.

For finding an individuals talent whats wrong with personality tests?

 

What are you claiming is a myth? SAT scores for Asians? It's a fact, unlike your opinion shared.

In 2022, Asian students achieved the highest average SAT score of 1229. Asian students' average score was 303 points higher than the average SAT score of Black students, which was 926. The group with the second-highest SAT score was Two or More Races with 1102, slightly higher than white students.

 

Now compare those tests with other 1st and 2nd generation immigrants.

Most black and white students arnt 1st or 2nd generation americans. How many of those tested fit those parameters, and what were their scores.

Tutoring, and being educated for the tests does make a difference as well. Private school blacks vs inner city white kids in baltimore for instance, and that will change the outcome as well.

So many other variables to consider that render skin color irrelevant. Like golem said, may as well use eye color.

 

You show us the difference and I'll read what you provide.

 

In that region you spoke of, did every other race use saucers when the drank coffee? Did they get the answer right on the standardized tests? You are making a classic statistical error. A population comprised of a distribution of races in different proportions will not necessarily produce the same distribution in sub-populations - particularly when specific conditions, e.g. race, sex, age, are applied to the sample. There are even formulas that calculate the size of the random sample needed to have the sample represent the distribution of the entire population within a margin of error.

That said, there ARE societal differences that test construtor DO have to be careful to avoid as much as possible. It's a difficult task to do correctly.

 

I gave a link.
Its got all kinds of charts that contridict the fallacious narrative that skin color is a relevant factor.

 

Open your article, and keyword search "asian" and see that it doesn't come up once. Nothing in your article supports your claim, and you clearly can't produce anything to back it up. Facts > Feelings.

 

Cute, except what excludes Asian from foreign born? Wrong keyword search.

But here ya go.

6 Charts That Dismantle The Trope Of Asian Americans As A Model Minority
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/9998...-trope-of-asian-americans-as-a-model-minority

Debunking the Model Minority myth
https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/debunking-the-model-minority-myth/

 

Interesting, but again nothing that counters Asian SAT scores. Just an odd desperate attempt to discriminate against asian americans.

 

When I have little info to go on, I trust my gut. I look at appropriate dress, grooming and especially language, when it comes to working situations.

I can’t trust someone’s competence if their grammar is terrible or they’re dressed inappropriately. Standards vary depending on the job.

Met a new director and knew they were a diversity hire when they said “axe” instead of asked. I just can’t get over that **** anymore.

 

Now? You never heard this? This has been out there for at least 4 decades. You sure got a lot of catching up to do!

 

Mostly contrived spin and tricks. To be of any value these charts should show comparison stats.

 

ALL of them....

 

It's the soft bigotry of low expectations. Not being able to pass a test isn't because you need to understand more it's because there's a conspiracy out to get you and you're just too stupid to know.

And somehow this conspiracy is motivated by one of the absolute least popular philosophies in US history.

I wonder if this is devised to keep Democrat voters stupid or because they really believe they're better than black people.

 

What you seem to be talking about was a cultural difference.