History of Cultural Bias in Assessment

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Abstract 

Learning about the history of cultural bias in psychological assessment is critical in light of the historical link between intelligence testing and eugenicist and racist ideology (e.g., Sayegh et al., 2023). Some of the earliest attempts to measure intellectual functioning in the United States and Europe emphasized physical attributes that demonstrated clear bias in favor of non-Latine White men, and findings from such assessments were frequently utilized to oppress individuals from minoritized groups (Allen, 2006; Hunt, 2009). The initial contemporary efforts to assess intelligence were conducted in France and largely focused on aiding in identifying students who may have benefited from special education or remedial studies services (Allen, 2006). However, in the US, the majority of tests of intelligence were initially utilized or developed in the early 1900s with the sole intention of demonstrating non-Latine White supremacy over people from other racial and ethnic groups and other minoritized groups such as immigrants from select countries (Franklin, 2007; Guthrie, 2004). These attempts have resulted in and continue to contribute to injustice, inequities, and harm in and via numerous contexts, including academic, immigration, military, public policy, popular literature, medical-legal, and research contexts, as well as among sexual and gender minoritized persons (e.g., Keo-Meier & Fitzgerald, 2017; Wright, 2024). Although there have been some successful efforts within psychology and legal rulings aimed at decreasing cultural bias in assessment and its negative consequences, there is still an urgent need for substantial improvement (e.g., Sayegh et al., 2023)

Presenter

Dr. Philip Sayegh | University of California Los Angeles 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the Webinar, attendees will be able to:

1. Distinguish between earlier and contemporary efforts to assess intellectual functioning.
2. Describe how the assessment of intelligence has been used to oppress minoritized groups both historically and more recently across various contexts.

Continuing Education Statement 

The Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Society for Personality Assessment is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0218.