Forty Years of Public Opinion on Standardized Testing(c)

Richard P. Phelps

(c) 2003, by Richard P. Phelps

The vagaries of opinion poll data

for use in research

Polling is episodic

Polls are often implemented quickly while a topic is in the news, leaving little time to pretest and edit items

Pollsters are often unfamiliar with a topic and, as a result, can pose questions based on naïve or inaccurate assumptions

There are two types of sampling error and pollsters often tell you about only one of them

Possible indicators that a poll is of

low quality

Poll does not publish its response or cooperation rate

Data collection lasted only a few days (better polls will use at least a week)

The pollsters can often be seen as pundits on television news talk shows

Respondent groups in public opinion

polls and research surveys

Number of studies, 1965-2002

Respondent groupTeachers,

administratorsPublic, parents

Public opinion polls 13 (5%) 232 (95%)

Research studies (evaluations, surveys)

56 (73%) 21 (27%)

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67

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120

Items on standardized testing in national polls, by year

Year

Pollsters pay more attention to testing when there's a national testing

proposal under consideration

● George H. W. Bush's national testing plan (1990-92)

● Bill Clinton's “Voluntary National Tests” (1997-99)

● George W. Bush's “No Child Left Behind” testing requirements (2000-02)

➔ (6 polls) +52 pp avg

➔ (6 polls) +48 pp avg

➔ (14 polls) +57 pp avg.

What should tests measure?

Should they be required?

Favor or oppose requiring standardized national tests to measure...

●...the academic achievement of students +60 pp●...knowledge in 5 core subjects +80 pp●...problem-solving skills +74 pp●...ability to write a clear composition +75 pp

Favor or oppose making these tests optional for districts?+37 pp

i.e., +23 pp prefer required over optional tests

How should tests be used?

Do you think tests should be used to...(PDK '97)

●...identify areas in which student need help +76 pp●...to rank the local public schools +39 pp●...to determine if a student advances to the next grade +28 pp●...to determine the level of funding school receives -18 pp●...to determine how much teachers should be paid -14 pp

Steadfast in support of graduation exams

Should students be required to pass tests to graduate? +90 pp(MOR '85)

●...if your child failed the first time? +86 pp●...if your child did not receive a diploma? +68 pp●...if 20% of low income students did not receive a diploma? +55 pp

Summary of public opinion on high-

stakes requirements

Among Education Providers (i.e. teachers, administrators, etc.)

Multiple polls and surveys, 1978-2003

Support for...Number of

Polls Mean pp dif

...high school graduation test requirements

26 34.3

...grade-level promotion test requirements

5 38.4

Summary of public opinion on high-

stakes requirements

Among Education Consumers (i.e., public, parents, students, etc.)

Multiple polls and surveys, 1958-2003

Support for...Number of

Polls Mean pp dif

...high school graduation test requirements 33 47.3

...grade-level promotion test requirements 23 45.3