Examiner Familiarity Effects on Test Performance

This paper describes how a program of research on examiner familiarity grew out of the author's own testing experience as a staff psychologist at a special education preschool program. These related investigations have spanned 7 years and involved hundreds of handicapped and nonhandicapped as well as preschool- and school-age children. Findings from the research program are presented and implications are discussed for practicing examiners, examiner-trainers, and the theory that firmly, albeit implicitly, guides most assessment and evaluation activity in schools, clinics, and educational research.