Cultural Issues in Testing There is a great range along which cultural factors may affect psychological testing. They range from cultural issues which will affect an individual's performance on a particular test thus altering the validity of that test (easiest to change) To Cultural issues that may affect an individual's performance on many tests (constructs) of behavior (most difficult to change).

Cultural Variables Affecting Testing Cultural issues of high degree of difficulty to correct would be ones in which biological issues are at issue such as: Prenatal and perinatal environments Nutritional Stimulation factors Similarly cultural differences exist in low achievement drive, antisocial attitudes toward authority, poor self-concept.

Development of Culture-free tests Purpose- Culture-free tests were attempted to be developed as a reaction against the criticism that IQ testing was culturally biased. Originally hoped that culture-free tests which measured "hereditary intellectual potential" could be developed. The reliance on language was reduced as the primary method of developing culture-free tests. Now, it is thought that culture permeates the very construct of IQ.

Culture-Fair Tests Once the idea was abandoned that Culture-free tests could be developed, it was thought that Culture-fair tests could be developed. This has proved difficult because not equally fair to all cultures. Individuals from cultural minorities do more poorly than individuals in the majority.

Culture-Fair Tests (continued) Even when language is removed, different culture factors are difficult to eliminate in attempting to develop culture fair tests. This is because: Level of Interest in test content. Rapport with the examiner. Motivation to perform well. Problem-solving tasks also may be culturally bound.

Examples of Culture-Fair Tests 60 Matrices missing relevant sections which the individual has to choose among six alternatives to match. Range from simple discrimination to analogies and logical relationships. Probably the best culture-fair test although not completely free from cultural influences.

Culture-Fair Tests (continued) Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test Examinee draws a picture of a man, woman, and self. Scored on the basis of number of relevant body parts and proportions.

Different Approaches to Developing Culture-FairTests Choosing items common to many cultures and validating against local criteria in many cultures. Develop test within one culture and administer to persons from different cultural backgrounds (obtain different normative groups). Developing different tests for different cultures and administering them only within those cultures.