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Contact: Lia Collen

University of Maryland
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liacollen@gmail.com

November 17, 2014

University professors new book criticizes tests

Hansons book pushes for the elimination of aptitude and behavior tests
People take dozens of tests throughout their lifetimes. Intelligence tests, aptitude
tests, drug tests, integrity tests the list goes on and on. Some may think that these tests
define our society. F. Allan Hanson, professor of anthropology at the University of
Maryland, does not agree.
Hanson has just written a book titled Testing Testing: Social Consequences of the
Examined Life that discusses the American societys addiction to tests. In this book, he
recommends eliminating all tests used to predict behavior and aptitude.
Problem with tests
Hanson supports tests that measure performance, such as what a student has
learned in class, but IQ tests can have undesirable consequences. Scores from IQ tests
become life sentences for children with very high or very low scores by labeling them as
a genius, slow learner or security risk. These students then act and are treated according
the expectations associated with those labels.

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Tests, pg. 2
People are examined and evaluated less for qualifications or knowledge they
already posses than for what the test results can predict about future actions of potential
behavior, Hanson argued.
Hanson says lie detector tests are the worst form of testing a pornographic gaze
into a persons private thoughts. The test taker is unable to conceal any information from
the test and the results are often unreliable anyway.
The power of tests
The one exception to Hansons idea is testing for anabolic steroids because the
effects remain after tests can detect the drug. Hanson says that random drug testing is the
only way to discover the use of steroids in athletic competition.
Tests are powerful tools for agencies, as companies use them to determine whom
to employ, to admit to college and to take on as a risk. Hanson thinks that the future will
likely result in more tests, such as those for genetic testing and DNA fingerprinting. The
future development of these tests may make it difficult to completely remove tests from
our society.
Hansons book is available at local bookstores, online at
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view, by contacting Denise Cicourel at UC
Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704.

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