FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2014

Office of University Communications

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SEO: UMD professor publishes book arguing to eliminate tests
Do tests have a negative impact on American society?
UMD professor publishes book arguing to eliminate tests
COLLEGE PARK, Md. It all begins with a third grade math test. If given a high score,
the student will be ready to ace grade school and receive a perfect score on the SAT. The
student will be accepted into an Ivy League university and after graduating, will become
the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
What if in third grade, the student failed the math test? Would the student then
lead a life of inadequacy and inability?
A new book, Testing Testing: Social Consequences of the Examined Life, by F.
Allan Hanson, exposes the repercussions of the American societys addiction to testing.
Hanson, a professor of anthropology at the university, recommends eliminating
integrity tests, lie detector tests, most drug tests, and behavior and aptitude tests.
People are examined and evaluated less for qualifications or knowledge they
already possess than for what the test results can predict about future actions or potential
behavior, Hanson says.
(more)
A. Spector, W/R#10 TA#2 Testing p. 2
Hanson argues that tests have negative consequences

Hanson argues that because tests provide information about people, they serve as
a judgmental tactic for employers, educational administrators, insurance firms and law
enforcement agencies to determine who is worthy of the companys services.
Decisions are made about people not on the basis of what they have done, or
even what they certainly will do, but in terms of what they might do, Hanson argues.
Hanson also says not only should aptitude and behavior tests be eliminated, but
the process would not be difficult. In support, he noted that some college admissions
offices no longer require scores from aptitude tests such as the ACT, GMAT or SAT as an
admissions requirement.
Tests may have undesirable consequences in certain situations, such as a child
who takes an IQ test and deems the score a life sentence. Tests that assign people to
various categories, such as genius or slow learner, are detrimental to peoples lives.
Where they are then treated, act and come to think of themselves according to
the expectations associated with those categories, says Hanson.
Hansons book is available in local bookstores or by contacting Denis Cicourel at
UC Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720.
For more information regarding Hansons study, visit his website. For more
information about his book, visit the UC Press website or follow UC Press on Twitter at
@UCPress.

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