This study was designed to examine the effects of race and sex on performance on selected affective exercises from the first social studies assessment conducted in 1971-72 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Compared were the performances of black males versus other males, black females versus other females, black males versus black females, and other males versus other females. The attitude exercises measured attitudes concerning two topics. The first topic concentrated on commitment to rights guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The second topic dealt with the concept of commitment to the worth of the individual. Results show that females performed better than males at all levels except the young adult, and blacks were consistently outperformed by others at all levels. Based on these results the study concluded that performance on some of the NAEP affective exercises was influenced by the sex and race of the respondent; the overall effects of race appeared to be greater than the overall effect of sex; and NAEP's sampling procedure has failed to provide the types of information needed to fully assess learning and attitudes in a pluralistic society. (Author/RM)