Forty Years of Public Opinion

on Standardized Testing(c)
Richard P. Phelps
(c)

2003, by Richard P. Phelps

The vagaries of
opinion poll data
for use in research

Polling is episodic
Polls are often implemented quickly while a topic is in the
news, leaving little time to pretest and edit items
Pollsters are often unfamiliar with a topic and, as a result,
can pose questions based on nave or inaccurate
assumptions
There are two types of sampling error and pollsters often tell

Possible indicators
that a poll is of
low quality

Poll does not publish its response or cooperation rate

Data collection lasted only a few days (better polls will
use at least a week)
The pollsters can often be seen as pundits on television
news talk shows

Respondent groups
in public opinion
polls and research
surveys
Respondent group

Public opinion
polls
Research
studies
(evaluations,
surveys)

Teachers,
administrators

Public,
parents

13 (5%)

232 (95%)

56 (73%)

21 (27%)

Items on standardized testing in national polls, by year

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Year

Pollsters pay more

attention to testing when
there's a national testing
proposal under
consideration

George H. W. Bush's national

testing plan (1990-92)

(6 polls) +52 pp avg

Bill Clinton's Voluntary

National Tests (1997-99)

(6 polls) +48 pp avg

George W. Bush's No Child

Left Behind testing
requirements (2000-02)

(14 polls) +57 pp avg.

What should tests measure?

Should they be required?
Favor or oppose requiring standardized
national tests to measure...
...the academic achievement of students

...knowledge in 5 core subjects

...problem-solving skills

...ability to write a clear composition

+60 pp
+80 pp
+74 pp
+75 pp

Favor or oppose making these tests optional for districts?

+37 pp
i.e., +23 pp prefer required over optional tests

How should
tests be used?

Do you think tests should be used to...

(PDK '97)
...identify areas in which student need help
+76
pp

...to rank the local public schools

+39
pp

...to determine if a student advances to the next grade +28 pp

...to determine the level of funding school receives

-18
pp

...to determine how much teachers should be paid

-14

Steadfast in support
of graduation exams

Should students be required to pass tests to graduate?

(MOR '85)

+90 pp

...if your child failed the first time?

+86 pp

...if your child did not receive a diploma?

+68 pp

...if 20% of low income students did not receive a diploma? +55 pp

Summary of public
opinion on highstakes
requirements
Among Education Providers (i.e. teachers, administrators, etc.)
Multiple polls and surveys, 1978-2003

Support for...
...high school graduation test
requirements

...grade-level promotion test

requirements

Number of
Polls

Mean pp dif

26

34.3

38.4

Summary of public
opinion on highstakes
requirements
Among Educa tion Consume rs (i.e ., public, pa re nts, stude nts, e tc.)
Mu ltip le p o lls a n d su rve ys, 1 9 5 8 -2 0 0 3

Number of
Polls

Mean pp dif

...high school graduation test

requirements

33

47.3

...grade-level promotion test

requirements

23

45.3

Support for...