Bias and Sensitivity ReviewTraining Module

Overview of Bias and SensitivityReview Module

• Purpose of bias and sensitivity review

• Structure and organization of review committee

• Bias and Sensitivity Guidelines document

• Revisit bias and sensitivity in the context of assessment

• Bias and sensitivity issues to consider

Purpose of Bias and Sensitivity Review

• Quality depends on eliciting appropriate evidence

• Non-targeted knowledge and skills can reduce quality

• Universal Design minimizes factors that reduce quality

• Bias and sensitivity review provides a check on quality of items and tasks

Expectation of Committee Members

• Conduct the review based on the criteria discussed during training

• Listen to, and collaborate with, other committee members

• High expectations for quality

• Provide honest and constructive feedback

• Focus on issues of content that may trigger bias and sensitivity

• Be familiar with the Smarter Balanced Bias and Sensitivity Guidelines

Bias and Sensitivity Guidelines

• Validity and Fairness

• Barriers to Fairness

• Fair Topics and Language

• Topics to be Avoided

• Topics to Treat with Care

• Representation of Diversity

Topics Examined in this Module

• Fairness

• Topics that are Fair

• Topics Treated with Care

• Topics to be Avoided

• Representation of Diversity

How an Item Functions

Present Information

Stimulate Construct

ProduceResponse

Produce Visible Productof Construct

ProduceScore

Measure of Construct

MakeInference

StatementAbout Construct

Interact with

Content

Apply Construct

Present Information

Stimulate Construct

ProduceResponse

Visible Productof Construct

QuantitativeScore

Measure of Construct

Inference

StatementAbout Construct

Interact with

Content

Apply Construct

Barriers to Valid Measurement

Inaccurate receipt or interpretation of stimulus

Challenges interacting with

content

Inaccurate production or recording of

response

Jimmy is the star on his football team. This season he scored ten touchdowns, kicked twenty extra points, and had eight field goals.

What is the total number of points Jimmy has scored this season?

What is a field

goal?104

Bias

• Bias occurs when content contained in an item or task creates an unfair disadvantage for a sub-group of students– Unfamiliar contexts or examples– Unusual names of people or places – References to local events or issues

Sensitivity

• Sensitivity focuses on content that creates unease, provokes negative feelings, or challenges beliefs or values.

– Religions, religious practices, and religious figures

– Political topics

– Issues of gender, race, ethnicity, and culture

Topics and Language

• Topics that are fair

• Topics to be avoided

• Topics to be treated with care

Topics Fair to Include

• Topics required by Common Core State Standards

• Topics to which all students should have been exposed

• Information that is required for the item and which is presented in the stimulus

• Topics students with disabilities have been exposed to in the classroom

• Topics students who are developing English language skills have been exposed to in the classroom

Topics to be AvoidedKey Questions

• Is the word used primarily in a specific region or localized context?

• Is the topic or term associated with a specific religion?

• Is the topic associated with a specific trade or occupation?

• Is the phrase an idiom or figure of speech?

Topics to be Avoided

• Pregnancy

• Contraception

• Abortion

• Sexual behavior or innuendo

• Abuse of people or animals

• Murder

• Assault

• Rape

• Torture

• Stealing

• Witches, ghosts, and vampires

• Deportation• Experimentation on people

or animals• Killing animals for sport• Suicide• Euthanasia• Gun control• Climate change• Prayer in school• Partisan political issues• Ethnic conflict• Religious disputes

Topics Treated with CareExamples

• Accidents and natural disasters• Advocacy• Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs• Animals that frighten children• Antisocial, criminal, or

inappropriate behaviors• Biographical materials• Dangerous activities• Death and Dying• Evolution

• Family problems• Gambling• Holidays and birthdays• Homelessness and evictions• Immigration• Junk food• Luxuries• Medicines and diet supplements• Obesity and body-image• Slavery• Terrorism and war

Avoiding Stereotypes

• Language

• Images

• Social and occupational roles

• Behaviors and characteristics

Appropriate Labels for Groups

• Black or African American

• Asian American: Refer to nation of origin (e.g., Japanese American, Chinese American)

• People with disabilities

• Latino/Latina American

• Native American or American Indian

Representation of Diversity

• Males and females equally represented

• Minority group representation

• People of different ages, physical abilities, and social classes

• Variety of life situations

Summary of Module

• Topics that are fair

• Topics to be avoided

• Topics to treat with care

• Avoid stereotypes

• Appropriate labels for groups of people

• Representation of diversity

• Bias and Sensitivity Guidelines