When We Make Important Decisions on the Basis of Students

question 36

Multiple Choice

When we make important decisions on the basis of students' achievement test results-for instance, when we identify which students to promote, which teachers to reward with salary increases, and so on, on the basis of students' test scores-we are most likely to see:

• A) Improvements in students' reading and writing skills but not in their math skills
• B) Improvements only in knowledge and skills specifically addressed in the tests
• C) Significant increases in students' motivation to work hard in their classes
• D) Decreases in students' overall achievement levels

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Definitions:

Erg

A unit of energy in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system, equivalent to the work done by a force of one dyne exerted for a distance of one centimeter.

Basic Drive

Fundamental motivational forces that drive behavior, such as hunger, thirst, sex, and avoidance of pain.

Personality Development

The growth and change in an individual’s character and behavioral traits over their lifespan.

Cattell

Raymond Cattell was a psychologist known for his research on personality theory and his development of the 16 Personality Factor (16PF) questionnaire.