From: nissim@mary.fordham.edu (Leonard J. Nissim)
Subject: Re: Biological Sex Differences? ("Women only" excusable ?)
Organization: Fordham University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 20:40:00 GMT
X-Posted-From: mary.fordham.edu
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <wentzell.78.715973345@ace.acadiau.ca>, wentzell@ace.acadiau.ca 
(LEEANN WENTZELL) writes...
[intermediate posts deleted]
> 
>I recently read an article which pointed out the bias in the college 
>entrance tests (GMAT?? Sorry, I'm not American) towards males. For example, 
>there were many analogies which dealt in sports terms. This is certainly 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>not to say that females know nothing about sports, but I'm about to start my 
>PhD (in biology) and I have never been interested in sports. Would I have 
>been "weeded" out before even entering college in the States? Perhaps a 
>little more fairness in these questions would lead to more women in 
>traditionally male faculties, and, of course, vice versa.

I saw an article in the New York Times about gender-biased questions on the 
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, for those outside the U.S., widely used in 
undergraduate admissions decisions); this article alleged that even on the 
mathematics test there were questions biased towards men because of the use of 
sports knowledge.  Here was their example of a biased question (roughly, I read
the article some time ago):  [emphasis ** added by me]

     A *basketball* team has a record of six wins and nine losses in its first
fifteen games.  How many games in a row must this team win, beginning with its
sixteenth game, to rise to a winning percentage of 55% ? 
     [multiple choice format--you can test all of the answers instead of 
solving it if you think that will save time]

    If this is the best example they could come up with, then the test is *not* 
biased at all.  Points: 
     1.  One need know nothing about basketball to answer this question. 
One needs to solve the equation 6+x=0.55(15+x).  The solution is x=5.  
     2.  Basketball, at the high school and college level, is played by both 
men and women anyway.  Perhaps more men know more about it.  Perhaps not. 
     3.  Replace *basketball* with *field hockey*.  Is it now a question biased
towards women?  (For those outside the U.S., field hockey is played mostly by 
women and girls here, and ice hockey mostly by men and boys.)  It is the same 
question.  One needs to know nothing about field hockey to solve it.  One needs 
to solve the equation 6+x=0.55(15+x).  The solution is x=5.  
     4.  Replace *basketball* with *4-dimensional Martian-steam-polo*.  Is it
now a question biased towards extra-terrestials?  It is the same question.  One
needs to know nothing about Martian-steam-polo to solve it.  One needs to solve 
the equation 6+x=0.55(15+x).  The solution is x=5.  

     I will not believe that there are biased questions on the mathematics part
of the SAT until or unless I see one.  Here is a question that really is 
biased, towards baseball fans.  (*I* made it up; it is not and ought not to be
on an SAT.)

     A pitcher has pitched two complete nine-inning games and has an earned run
average (ERA) of 3.50.  How many scoreless innings must he or she pitch in the 
future, to lower his or her ERA to 1.00? 

     This one can't be solved unless you know the algebraic formula for ERA; no
non-baseball fan has a chance.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard J. Nissim  (nissim@mary.fordham.edu)   
Disclaimer:  "I speak only for myself."
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