International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME)

Proceedings of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education · Volume 1

Managing Inevitable Bias: a Framework for Culturally Responsive Assessment in Mathematics Teacher Education

Hajin Park, Wee Tiong Seah

The University of Melbourne

49th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, PME 2026Helsinki27 July 2026 - 1 August 2026pp. 1139–1146ISSN 2790-36482026Scopus conference code 336559
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Abstract

This study challenges the assumption that cultural bias in assessment can be eliminated through awareness and design. Through interviews with five educators of pre-service teachers of subjects such as mathematics, this paper demonstrates that bias is a reality to be managed rather than eliminated. Findings reveal that: (1) online environments facilitate more consistent cultural integration through systematic planning than face-to-face adjustments; (2) unlimited cultural integration undermines assessment consistency; and (3) technology amplifies cultural advantages in unpredictable ways. This paper proposes a framework for systematic bias management by transparently distributing advantages across assessment sequences, making cultural assumptions explicit, and involving cultural representatives in evaluation design.

Keywords

culturally responsive assessmentsystematic bias managementhigher educationonline learningmathematics education

Recommended citation

Park, H., & Seah, W. (2026). Managing Inevitable Bias: a Framework for Culturally Responsive Assessment in Mathematics Teacher Education. In Krzywacki H., Hähkiöniemi M., Haataja E., Hannula M.S., Hästö P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Volume 1 (pp. 1139–1146). Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME). ISSN 2790-3648.

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