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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 12, 2015

CONTACT: Allison Cloutier, allisoncloutier@yahoo.com, 203-814-8433

UMD Professor Writes Book About Negative Consequences of Testing

Hanson says testing for students and employees may have undesired effects
COLLEGE PARK, Md.F. Allan Hanson, professor of anthropology at the university,
wrote a book entitled, Testing Testing: Social Consequences of the Examined Life,
that opposes testing in both business and education. Hanson uncovers many unintended
consequences of various forms of testing on the lives of students and employees.
Hanson insists that most drug, intelligence, aptitude and lie detectors tests should
be eliminated from school and business environments. Hanson argues, The American
preoccupation with testing has resulted in a panoply of techniques dedicated to scanning,
probing, weighing, perusing and recording every last detail of our personal traits and life
experiences.
Hanson recommends that drug testing should only be used when a person is
suspected of using drugs, with an exception for testing for anabolic steroids.
Additionally, he believes that lie detector testing should be eliminated entirely.
As for school environments, Hanson writes that tests predicting behavior or
aptitude can have more negative effects on students than positive. He argues that scores
from these tests have the potential to determine the rest of their lives, which should not
happen.





Defining potential

The scores on these different forms of testing provide information on the

potential rather than the facts, Hanson says. Decisions are made about people not on
the basis of what they have done, or even what they certainly will do, but in terms of
what they might do.
Hansons book is available at local bookstores or by contacting Denise Cicourel at
UC Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. For more information on the
negative effects of standardized testing on students, visit:
https://www.psla.umd.edu/news/dr-byoung-suk-kweon-current-research-and-area-study252

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About the University of Maryland:

The University of Maryland is one of the nations top leading public research
universities. The university holds more than 24,000 students and offers 90 undergraduate
majors across 10 different colleges. The University of Maryland is ranked No. 19 among
national public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report in 2015. The
undergraduate admissions team looks for students excelling not only in academics, but in
involvement, passion and drive. The University of Maryland faculty members are some
of the most experienced educators in their fields, striving for student success and
encouraging independent research of each and every student.
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TO: Matt Schnabel, Dbk Editor in Chief, diamondbackeditor@gmail.com
SUBJECT: University Professor Writes Book Arguing Negative Consequences of Tests
Outweigh the Positive
Dear Mr. Schnabel,
This feature release discusses the arguments made by university Professor of
Anthropology, F. Allan Hanson in his new book, Testing Testing: Social Consequences
of the Examined Life.
Professor Hanson argues that different forms of testing in educational and business
environments have more negative outcomes than positive. Hansons argument is based
on the idea that testing has made our society preoccupied with recording every detail of
our lives and experiences.
Hanson believes that ability tests are useful in proving ones knowledge, but prediction
tests, IQ tests, drug tests and lie detector tests are unethical and unfair.
For more information on the book, or if you would like a copy, please contact Denise
Cicourel at UC Press: 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. If youd like to contact
Dr. Hanson personally, please feel free to use his contact information:

Dr. F. Allan Hanson

hanson@umd.edu
785-864-2636

Please dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Best,
Allison Cloutier
allisoncloutier@yahoo.com
203-814-8433
[PASTED-IN RELEASE]
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