An Analysis of Age, Gender, Education, and Race/Ethnicity as Performance Indicators on Tests of Perceptual Speed, Accuracy and Spatial Skills

Author

Gail C. Musgrave, University of Texas Permian Basin

Date of Award

8-1995

Document Type

Research Project Report

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Education

Supervisory Committee Chair

Patricio Jaramillo, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Al Milliren, Ed.D.

Third Advisor

G. Peter Ienatsch, Ph.D.

Abstract

To ascertain the effect of age, gender, educational level and race/ethnicity on test performance, a battery of three tests measuring perceptual speed, accuracy, spatial orientation, and visualization was administered to a sample of 362 applicants in the Odessa, Texas, Job Training Partnership Act, an agency which retrains displaced workers. The sample was stratified into five age groups: 17-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and over 60. Further definition placed each person in one of five educational levels ranging from General Equivalency Diploma to Bachelors degree. Multiple regression analyses determined the effect of the independent demographic variables. ANOVAS determined ethnic performance variations. As predicted, significant effect indicated that performance tended to decline with age; gender performance was task-related; and each increasing educational level raised mean scores. The performance level of each ethnic group-Blacks, Hispanics, and Anglos-varied based on the skill, indicating some significant differences between groups.

Comments

BF692.2.M87

Recommended Citation

Musgrave, Gail C., "An Analysis of Age, Gender, Education, and Race/Ethnicity as Performance Indicators on Tests of Perceptual Speed, Accuracy and Spatial Skills" (1995). Graduate Theses. 99.
https://falconcommons.utpb.edu/utpb-edu/99