IQ Tester Complains About Offers on eBay

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2375

Intelligence tests widely used to help determine the competence of criminal defendants and the placement of students are for sale on http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=329 Inc.’s online auction site, and the test maker is worried they will be misused.

The series of Wechsler intelligence tests, made by San Antonio-based Harcourt Assessment Inc., are supposed to be sold to and administered by only clinical psychologists and trained professionals.

Given more than a million times a year nationwide, according to Harcourt, the intelligence tests often are among numerous tests ordered by prosecutors and defense attorneys to determine the mental competence of criminal defendants. A low IQ, for example, can be used to argue leniency in sentencing.Schools use the tests to determine whether to place a student in a special program, whether for gifted or struggling students.

Harcourt officials say they fear the tests for sale on eBay will be misused for coaching by lawyers or parents.

But eBay has denied their request to restrict the sale of the tests.

EBay officials say there is nothing illegal about selling the tests, and it cannot monitor every possible misuse of items sold through its network of 248 million buyers and sellers.

http://www.newsmax.com/science/ebay_iq_tests/2007/12/18/57962.html

2007-12-20