Research Article
The Scholastic Aptitude Test: A Critical Appraisal
Warner Slack
Harvard Educational Review July 1980, 50 (2) 154-175; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.50.2.d755627708652757

References
- Alderman, D. L., & Powers, D. E. The effects of special preparation on SAT-Verbal scores (RDR 78-79, No. 4). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1979.
- Angoff, W. H., & Dyer, H. S. The Admissions Testing Program. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), The College Board Admissions Testing Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.The Admissions Testing Program. The College Board Admissions Testing Program.
- Breland, H. M. Population validity and college entrance measures (Research Monograph No. 8). New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1979.Population validity and college entrance measures.
- Brigham, C. C. A study of error. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1932.A study of error.
- Brill, S. The secrecy behind the college boards. New York, October 7, 1974, pp. 67-83.
- Brown, C. W., & Ghiselli, E. E. Per cent increases in proficiency resulting from use of selective devices. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1953, 37, 341-344.Per cent increases in proficiency resulting from use of selective devices. Journal of Applied Psychology 37:341–344.
- Burt, C. Intelligence and social mobility. British Journal of Statistical Psychology, 1961, 14, 3-24.Intelligence and social mobility. British Journal of Statistical Psychology 14:3–24.
- Coffman, W. E. A factor analysis of the verbal sections of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (College Entrance Examination Board RDR 65-6, No. 17 & RB 66-30). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1966.A factor analysis of the verbal sections of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (College Entrance Examination Board RDR 65-6, No. 17 & RB 66-30).
- Coffman, W. E. The Achievement Tests. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), The College Board AdmissionsTesting Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.The Achievement Tests. The College Board Admissions Testing Program.
- Coffman, W. E., & Parry, M. E. Effects of an accelerated reading course on SAT-V scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 1967, 46, 292-296.Effects of an accelerated reading course on SAT-V scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal 46:292–296.
- College Entrance Examination Board. A statement by the Board of Trustees on test coaching. College Board Review, 1959, No. 38, p. 3.
- College Entrance Examination Board. Effects of coaching on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. New York: Author, 1965.
- College Entrance Examination Board. Effects of coaching on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. New York: Author, 1968.
- Cronbach, L. J., & Gleser, G. C. Psychological tests and personnel decisions Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 1957.Psychological tests and personnel decisions.
- Dear, R.E. The effects of a program of intensive coaching on SAT scores (RB 58-5). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1958.The effects of a program of intensive coaching on SAT scores (RB 58-5).
- Declaration of Helsinki. Recommendations guiding doctors in clinical research. Journal of theAmerican Medical Association, 1966, 197(11), 32.
- Declining scores prompt study of coaching for College Boards. Boston Globe, January 1, 1978, p. C-9.
- Donlon, T. F., & Angoff, W. H. The Scholastic Aptitude Test. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), TheCollege Board Admissions Testing Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.The Scholastic Aptitude Test. The College Board Admissions Testing Program.
- Dorfman, D. D. The Cyril Burt question: New findings. Science, 1978, 201, 1177-1186.The Cyril Burt question: New findings. Science 201:1177–1186.
- Dyer, H. S. Does coaching help? College Board Review, 1953, No. 19, pp. 331-335.Does coaching help? College Board Review 19:331–335.
- Dyer, H. S. How adequate are the admissions tests? College Board Review, 1962, No. 47, pp. 3-7.How adequate are the admissions tests? College Board Review 47:3–7.
- Dyer, H. S., & King, R. G. College Board scores: Their use and interpretation (No. 2). Princeton: College Entrance Examination Board, 1955.College Board scores: Their use and interpretation.
- Educational Testing Service. About the Achievement Tests 1974-75. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1974.
- Educational Testing Service. About the SAT and the Test of Standard Written English. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1977a.
- Educational Testing Service. Guide to the Admissions Testing Program 1977-78. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1977b.
- Educational Testing Service. Taking the SAT: A guide to the Scholastic Aptitude Test and theTest of Standard Written English. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1978.
- Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection. Effects of coaching on standardized admission examinations: Revised statistical analysis of data gathered by the Boston Regional Office of the Federal Trade Commission. Washington, D.C.: Author, March, 1979.
- Fincher, C. Is the SAT worth its salt? An evaluation of the Scholastic Aptitude Test in the University System of Georgia over a thirteen-year period. Review of Educational Research, 1974, 44, 293-305.Is the SAT worth its salt? An evaluation of the Scholastic Aptitude Test in the University System of Georgia over a thirteen-year period. Review of Educational Research 44:293–305.
- Fishman, J. A. 1957 Supplement to College Board scores (No. 2). New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1957.1957 Supplement to College Board scores.
- Ford, S. F., & Campos, S. Summary of validity data from the Admissions Testing ProgramValidity Study Service. Princeton: College Extrance Examination Board, 1977.Summary of validity data from the Admissions Testing Program Validity Study Service.
- Frankel, E. Effects of growth, practice, and coaching on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 1960, 38, 713-719.Effects of growth, practice, and coaching on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal 38:713–719.
- Fremer, J., & Chandler, M. O. Special studies. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), The College BoardAdmission Testing Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.Special studies. The College Board Admission Testing Program.
- French, J. W. An answer to test coaching. College Board Review, 1955, No. 27, pp. 5-7.An answer to test coaching. College Board Review 27:5–7.
- French, J. W. The validity of new tests for performance of college students with high-levelaptitude. (Research Bulletin 63-7). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1963.
- French, J. W. New tests for predicting the performance of college students with high-level aptitude. Journal of Educational Psychology, 1964, 55,185-194.New tests for predicting the performance of college students with high-level aptitude. Journal of Educational Psychology 55:185–194.
- French, J. W., & Dear, R. E. Effect of coaching on an aptitude test. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1959, 19, 319-330.Effect of coaching on an aptitude test. Educational and Psychological Measurement 19:319–330.
- Goldman, R. D., & Widawski, M. H. An analysis of types of errors in the selection of minority college students. Journal of Educational Measurement, 1976, 13, 185-200.An analysis of types of errors in the selection of minority college students. Journal of Educational Measurement 13:185–200.
- Guilford, J.P. Fundamental statistics in psychology and education (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 1956.Fundamental statistics psychology and education.
- Hoffmann, B. The tyranny of testing. New York: Crowell-Collier Press, 1962.The tyranny of testing.
- Houts, P. L. (Ed.). The myth of measurability. New York: Hart, 1977.The myth of measurability.
- Kamin, L. J. The science and politics of I. Q Potomac, Md.: Erlbaum, 1974.The science and politics of I. Q.
- Layzer, D. Heritability analyses of IQ scores: Science or numerology? Science, 1974, 183, 1259-1266.Heritability analyses of IQ scores: Science or numerology? Science 183:1259–1266.
- Levine, A. E. The effects of coaching on standardized admissions examinations. Staff Memorandum of the Boston Regional Office of the Federal Trade Commission, September, 1978. Washington, D.C.: Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, May, 1979.
- Marron, J. E. Preparatory school test preparation: Special test preparation, its effect on CollegeBoard scores and the relationship of effected scores to subsequent college performance (Study No. I-A1.02-63-001). West Point, N.Y.: United States Military Academy, 1965.Preparatory school test preparation: Special test preparation, its effect on College Board scores and the relationship of effected scores to subsequent college performance (Study No. I-A1.02-63-001).
- Moll, R. W. Optional SAT—two years of testing the tradition of tests at Bowdoin. CollegeBoard Review, 1972, No. 86, pp. 11-13, 38-41.Optional SAT—two years of testing the tradition of tests at Bowdoin. College Board Review 86:11, 38–13, 41.
- Moll, R. W. Untitled pamphlet on elimination of the College Board Examination requirement Brunswick, Me.: Bowdoin College Admissions Office, 1974.Untitled pamphlet on elimination of the College Board Examination requirement.
- Moulthrop, R. Letter to the editor. New York Times, December 13, 1977, p. 42.
- Nairn, A., & Associates. The reign of ETS: The corporation that makes up minds. Washington: Ralph Nader, 1980.The reign of ETS: The corporation that makes up minds.
- Olsen, M. Summary of main findings on the validity of the College Entrance Examination Boardtests of developed ability as predictors of college grades (Statistical Report 57-41). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1957.
- Pallone, N.J. Effects of short- and long-term developmental reading courses upon S.A.T. verbal scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 1961, 39, 654-657.Effects of short- and long-term developmental reading courses upon S.A.T. verbal scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal 39:654–657.
- Pike, L.W. Short-term instruction, testwiseness, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test: A literaturereview with research recommendations (RB 78-2). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1978.Short-term instruction, testwiseness, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test: A literature review with research recommendations (RB 78-2).
- Pike, L.W., & Evans, F.R. Effects of special instruction for three kinds of mathematics aptitudeitems (Research Report 1). New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1972.Effects of special instruction for three kinds of mathematics aptitude items (Research Report 1).
- Roberts, S.O., & Oppenheim, D. B. The effect of special instruction upon test performance ofhigh school students in Tennessee (Research and Development Report 66-7, No. 1). Princeton: Educational Testing Service, 1966.The effect of special instruction upon test performance of high school students in Tennessee (Research and Development Report 66-7, No. 1).
- Ryans, D. G., & Frederiksen, N. In E. F. Lindquist (Ed.), Educational measurement. Washington, D.C.: American Council on Education, 1951.Educational measurement.
- Schrader, W. B. A taxonomy of expectancy tables. Journal of Educational Measurement, 1965, 2, 29-35.A taxonomy of expectancy tables. Journal of Educational Measurement 2:29–35.
- Schrader, W. B. The predictive validity of College Board Admissions tests. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), The College Board Admissions Testing Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.The predictive validity of College Board Admissions tests. The College Board Admissions Testing Program.
- Schrader, W.B., & Stewart, E. E. Descriptive statistics on College Board candidates and other reference groups. In W. H. Angoff (Ed.), The College Board Admissions Testing Program. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1971.Descriptive statistics on College Board candidates and other reference groups. The College Board Admissions Testing Program.
- Slack, C.W. How I tried to tell the world how to pass IQ tests. Psychology Today, 1976, 8, 28.How I tried to tell the world how to pass IQ tests. Psychology Today 8:28.
- Taylor, H. C., & Russell, J. T. The relationship of validity coefficients to the practical effectiveness of tests in selection: Tables and discussion. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1939, 23, 565-578.The relationship of validity coefficients to the practical effectiveness of tests in selection: Tables and discussion. Journal of Applied Psychology 23:565–578.
- Tippett, L. H. C. On the extreme individuals and the range of samples taken from a normal population. Biometrika, 1925, 17, 364-387.On the extreme individuals and the range of samples taken from a normal population. Biometrika 17:364–387.
- Watson, J. B. Behaviorism. New York: Norton, 1924.Behaviorism.
- Whimbey, A., & Whimbey, L.S. Intelligence can be taught. New York: Dutton, 1975.Intelligence can be taught.
- Whitla, D. Effect of tutoring on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal, 1962, 41, 32-37.Effect of tutoring on Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Personnel and Guidance Journal 41:32–37.
- Willie, C. V. Education in the year 2000. Harvard Graduate School of Education Association Bulletin, Summer 1978, pp. 3-5.Education in the year 2000. Harvard Graduate School of Education Association Bulletin, 3–5.
- Wirtz, W., & Panel. On further examination: Report of the Advisory Panel on the Scholastic Aptitude Test Score decline. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1977.On further examination: Report of the Advisory Panel on the Scholastic Aptitude Test Score decline.
In this issue
The Scholastic Aptitude Test: A Critical Appraisal
Warner Slack
Harvard Educational Review Jul 1980, 50 (2) 154-175; DOI: 10.17763/haer.50.2.d755627708652757
Jump to section
Related Articles
- No related articles found.
Cited By...
- No citing articles found.




