CEN 3721 FINAL EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ Why are so many people uncomfortable with the use of
psychological tests, especially when they are used to make
important decisions? Answer:
◉ Why are both lawmakers and professional organizations
concerned about regulating test use? Answer: Concerned with the
results of testing - adverse impact against minority test-takers is
viewed as discrimination...
... unless the test user can show that the test is valid and appropriate
(and that there are no better alternatives).
◉ What does federal law say about testing in each of the following
areas? (not in your book!)
Discrimination
Disability
Education
Test-Taker's Rights Answer:
,◉ Discrimination:
Who is protected? Why is this relevant to testing? Answer: Civil
Rights Act, 1964 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, and gender.
Applies to a wide variety of decisions - employment, education,
housing, etc.
Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - among
other things, sets guidelines for fair and appropriate employment
testing
◉ Discrimination:
How are the consequences or results of the test considered in
deciding whether discrimination is occurring? Answer: If minority
and majority group members get different scores, is the problem
with the test?
Or is there a real difference with another cause?
◉ Discrimination:
Can a test show differences between majority and minority group
members and yet not be considered discriminatory? If so, when?
Answer:
◉ Disability: How should persons with disabilities be tested? When
must schools and other organizations make accommodations for a
,person whose disability might impair their performance on a test?
Answer: Education for All Handicapped Children, 1975 - requires
appropriate, professional testing of children suspected to have a
disability.
-Goal is to determine child's educational needs and meet them.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , 1997 - requires
appropriate testing to establish disability status and educational
progress.
-Educational progress tests must accommodate students with
disabilities as far as is reasonably possible.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 - prohibits discrimination on
the basis of disabilities.
◉ Education: How are tests used in the No Child Left Behind Act?
Answer: No Child Left Behind, 2001 - holds schools accountable for
student improvement by assessing progress on standardized tests.
◉ Test-Takers' Rights: What rights are given to test-takers under
federal law? Answer: Test-Takers' Rights
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 1974 - parents and
students have the right to access school records, including tests.
-May request a hearing to challenge test scores.
, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 -
individuals have the right to know (and control) who has access to
their medical information, including psychological test results.
◉ What is case law? How is it different from legislated laws and
statutes? Answer: Legislation is necessarily broad.
Details of how to implement the law are often worked out over time.
When there is dispute about how to implement a law, it often ends
up in court.
A judge's ruling sets precedent that other cases must follow unless
the ruling is overturned.
Within the same court level - state, appeals, supreme.
This means that the judge's ruling essentially tells us what will be
considered legal or illegal in the future.
◉ Why do test users need to be aware of case law? Answer:
◉ What are APA's five general ethical principles?
Be able to give examples of each in a testing context - not just a
research context. Answer: 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
-Do good; avoid doing harm. Consider the effects of your choices on
others.
2. Fidelity and Responsibility
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ Why are so many people uncomfortable with the use of
psychological tests, especially when they are used to make
important decisions? Answer:
◉ Why are both lawmakers and professional organizations
concerned about regulating test use? Answer: Concerned with the
results of testing - adverse impact against minority test-takers is
viewed as discrimination...
... unless the test user can show that the test is valid and appropriate
(and that there are no better alternatives).
◉ What does federal law say about testing in each of the following
areas? (not in your book!)
Discrimination
Disability
Education
Test-Taker's Rights Answer:
,◉ Discrimination:
Who is protected? Why is this relevant to testing? Answer: Civil
Rights Act, 1964 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, and gender.
Applies to a wide variety of decisions - employment, education,
housing, etc.
Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - among
other things, sets guidelines for fair and appropriate employment
testing
◉ Discrimination:
How are the consequences or results of the test considered in
deciding whether discrimination is occurring? Answer: If minority
and majority group members get different scores, is the problem
with the test?
Or is there a real difference with another cause?
◉ Discrimination:
Can a test show differences between majority and minority group
members and yet not be considered discriminatory? If so, when?
Answer:
◉ Disability: How should persons with disabilities be tested? When
must schools and other organizations make accommodations for a
,person whose disability might impair their performance on a test?
Answer: Education for All Handicapped Children, 1975 - requires
appropriate, professional testing of children suspected to have a
disability.
-Goal is to determine child's educational needs and meet them.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , 1997 - requires
appropriate testing to establish disability status and educational
progress.
-Educational progress tests must accommodate students with
disabilities as far as is reasonably possible.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 - prohibits discrimination on
the basis of disabilities.
◉ Education: How are tests used in the No Child Left Behind Act?
Answer: No Child Left Behind, 2001 - holds schools accountable for
student improvement by assessing progress on standardized tests.
◉ Test-Takers' Rights: What rights are given to test-takers under
federal law? Answer: Test-Takers' Rights
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 1974 - parents and
students have the right to access school records, including tests.
-May request a hearing to challenge test scores.
, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 -
individuals have the right to know (and control) who has access to
their medical information, including psychological test results.
◉ What is case law? How is it different from legislated laws and
statutes? Answer: Legislation is necessarily broad.
Details of how to implement the law are often worked out over time.
When there is dispute about how to implement a law, it often ends
up in court.
A judge's ruling sets precedent that other cases must follow unless
the ruling is overturned.
Within the same court level - state, appeals, supreme.
This means that the judge's ruling essentially tells us what will be
considered legal or illegal in the future.
◉ Why do test users need to be aware of case law? Answer:
◉ What are APA's five general ethical principles?
Be able to give examples of each in a testing context - not just a
research context. Answer: 1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
-Do good; avoid doing harm. Consider the effects of your choices on
others.
2. Fidelity and Responsibility
