Effects of knowledge of criterion groups on actual and expected test performance of Negro and Mexican-American eighth graders.

Examined the effects that knowledge of the criterion group had on the test performance of 102 Negro and 74 Mexican-American 8th graders. There was no evidence that comparison with 1 of 4 norm groups affected performance through either an Aptitude * Treatment interaction or through an overall treatment effect. Data on expected performance indicate a significant aptitude-treatment effect with Negro Ss only. Results suggest that knowledge of a criterion group may not consistently alter the test performance of persons from minority groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)