Some subscribers to Phys-L might be interested in a recent post
"Counterproductive Targets" [Hake (2013)]. The abstract reads:
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ABSTRACT: The recent Atlanta cheating scandal [(Gumbrecht 2013) at
<http://bit.ly/YRAVax> and (Strauss 2013a) at
<http://wapo.st/Z2ebBB>], is a byproduct of the draconian
consequences of failure to meet "Adequate Yearly Progress"
<http://bit.ly/Z0iq0o> TARGETS of the "No Child Left Behind Act"
<http://bit.ly/XWtRGp>. Such corruption is consistent with six
empirical "laws" related to *Counterproductive Targets*, five of
which were listed by EvalTalk's Bill Fear (2013). They are
epitomized by "Campbell's Law": "The more any quantitative social
indicator is used for social decision-making, the more subject it
will be to corruption pressures and the more apt it will be to
distort and corrupt the social processes it is intended to monitor."
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REFERENCES [URL shortened by <http://bit.ly/> and accessed on 03 April 2013.]
Hake, R.R. 2013. "Counterproductive Targets" online on the OPEN
Net-Gold archives at <http://yhoo.it/YTuvYB>. Post of 03 April
14:00-0700 to Net-Gold and AERA-L. The abstract and link to the
complete post are being transmitted to several discussion lists and
are on my blog "Hake'sEdStuff" at <http://bit.ly/10zIpfz> with a
provision for comments.