They tend to backfire because they create incentives to raise scores by many undesirable means, such as reducing time allocated to untested subjects and devoting time to various types of inappropriate test preparation. (gse.harvard.edu)
In addition, they wrote, such a system would give teachers «less incentive to engage in inappropriate test preparation and more incentive to undertake the much harder task of improving instruction.» (nytimes.com)
Inappropriate testing for heart attacks increases the cost of treatment; increases the number of false positives, which could lead to further testing and unnecessary consultations; and adds to patient anxiety, said Dr. Anil Makam, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern and first author of the study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. (sciencedaily.com)