Authors: Richard A. Figueroa
ISBN-13: 9780893917753, ISBN-10: 0893917753
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated
Date Published: January 1994
Edition: 1st Edition
This book is directly concerned with the reasons underlying bilingual children's poor performance on standardized tests. It is the authors' contention that without an understanding of the nature of bilingualism itself, the problems encountered by bilingual individuals on such tests will continue. The volume's primary purpose is to contribute to the development of a research, knowledge, and theoretical base which can support the testing of bilingual individuals. By reviewing and discussing both the nature of bilingualism and the nature of standardized testing and by presenting a detailed agenda of the questions that must be answered the authors hope to influence existing and future policies which govern the use of tests and test results. This area is of increasing importance to American education and the policy implications are evident.
Addresses the reasons underlying bilingual children's poor performance on standardized tests, bringing together existing scholarship on bilingualism, and existing knowledge about the field of standardized testing. Covers measuring bilingualism, testing bilinguals, bilingualisms and cognitive difference, diagnostic testing, and alternative approaches to testing and assessment. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Acknowledgments | ||
Introduction by Series Editor | ||
Introduction | 1 | |
1 | The Nature of Bilingualism | 5 |
Bilingualism: Definitions and Typologies | 7 | |
The Study of Circumstantial and Elective Bilinguals: Some Fundamental Problems | 20 | |
2 | The Measurement of Bilingualism | 29 |
The Source of the Problem: Measuring and Describing Bilingualism | 29 | |
How Has Bilingualism Been Measured: An Overview of Tendencies, Trends and Questions | 41 | |
3 | Bilingualism and Cognitive Difference | 68 |
The Relationship Between Bilingualism and Cognitive Difference | 68 | |
4 | The Testing of Bilinguals | 87 |
Intelligence Testing | 87 | |
Achievement Testing | 109 | |
Personality Testing | 118 | |
Vocational Testing | 121 | |
5 | Diagnostic Testing | 123 |
Diagnostic Testing | 123 | |
The Courts and Intelligence Testing in Special Education | 129 | |
Diagnosis and Psychometrics in Special Education: A Study of Decision-Making Accuracy | 152 | |
6 | Testing Bilinguals: From Issue Examination to Issue Implications | 172 |
Option 1: Minimizing the Potential Harm of Using Existing Standardized Tests with Circumstantial Bilinguals | 174 | |
Option 2: The Temporary Abolishment of the Use of Standardized Tests with Circumstantial Bilinguals | 181 | |
Option 3: The Development of Alternative Approaches to Testing and Assessment | 190 | |
The Assessment of Competency | 195 | |
Conclusions and Recommendations | 202 | |
Appendix: Toward the Development of a Research Agenda on Bilingualism and Testing | 204 | |
References | 217 | |
Author Index | 245 | |
Subject Index | 253 |