The Test Score Decline: A Review and Annotated Bibliography
Abstract
This paper brings together the large body of literature on indicators of changes in U.S. scholastic aptitude and achievement levels within the 1952- 1980 period. The population target is youth from pre-school to post-college graduate ages. The study is divided into three major sections: (1) a discussion of the trends which have emerged over time which have been supported by creditable data. The discussion first reviews aptitude test score patterns from 1952 through 1980 on eight scholastic achievement test score data covering 10 different tests batteries for grades 1 through 12. (2) an annotated bibliography of 49 sources were reviewed by the author. (3) a bibliography of literature related to the decline of tests scores. This reference list includes over 257 sources on aptitude and achievement score trends over the period. The aptitude testing data covering the entire period from the early 1950s to 1980 show remarkable consistency. With the exception of slight increases on the LSAT, the other measures of scholastic aptitude of youth reviewed have consistently decreased at a rate of about 1 to 3% of a standard deviation per year. This trend continues today, although there is some evidence that the rate of decline has lessened somewhat in the past three years. In general, the author also found consistent evidence of achievement test score declines, in all areas tested above grade 4, for the 1960s through 1970s.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA103091
Entities
People
- Brian K. Waters
Organizations
- Human Resources Research Organization