ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN CARRYING OUT ASSESSMENT

• Executive Style vs. Participatory Style (Efficiency vs. Effectiveness)

 
• Relatively Centralized vs. Relatively Decentralized

 
• Short-term Focus vs. Longitudinal Measures and Databases

 
• Single Measure/Uniform Methodology vs. Multiple Measures and Methods

 
• The Grand Plan vs. Build from the Simple to the Elaborate

 
• The Purpose: Measuring the Attainment of Standards vs. Comparison Measurement vs. Measuring Goal Attainment, Growth and Change

ISSUES IN DESIGNING THE ASSESSMENT

1. The purpose of the assessment
   
   
2. The assessment team and its charge
   
   
3. Content and coverage
   
   
4. Form and format of assessment instruments
   
   
5. Sampling
   
   
6. Student participation
   
   
7. Timing of the assessment
   
   
8. Technical characteristics of assessment instruments and methods
   
   
9. Standards for judging student performance or accomplishment

SOURCE: Appelbaum, M.I. (1988). Assessment through the major. In C. Adelman (Ed.), Performance and judgment: Essays on principles and practice in the assessment of college student learning (pp. 117-137). (Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement , Publication No. OR 88-514). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

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