Question

1. Can a test that is determined to be biased, still be a fair test? Alternatively, can a test that is determined to be unfair, still be an unbiased test? Explain the differences between biases and fairness and how we as practitioners help to reduce it

Answer 1

Tests are considered to be biased if the test design or result interpretation favours certain groups of individuals based on aspects such as gender, race, socioeconomic status, geographic region and ethnicity. It is a measure of the variance between group behaviour that results from the properties that lie outside the test. A test bias is therefore a purely statistical error that can be controlled for ability differences between test takers after sufficient investigation. Test fairness, on the other hand, is closely related to test bias but is not identical. Test fairness analyses the ethical elements of whether or not the test adequately represents diverse groups of individuals.