Assessment Methods
- Written surveys and questionnaires -- asking individuals to share their perceptions about the study target -- e.g., their own or others' skills/attitudes/behavior, or program/course qualities and attributes.
- Exit and other interviews -- asking individuals to share their perceptions about the target of study -- e.g., their own skills/attitudes, skills and attitudes of others, or program qualities 00 in a face-to-face dialog with an interviewer.
- Commercial, norm-referenced, standardized examinations -- commercially developed examinations, generally group administered, mostly multiple choice, "objective" tests, usually purchased from a private vendor.
- Locally developed examinations -- objective or subjective designed by local staff/faculty.
- Archival records -- biographical, academic, or other file data available from college or other agencies and institutions.
- Focus groups -- guided discussion of a group of people who share certain characteristics related to the research or evaluation question, conducted by trained moderator.
- Portfolios -- collections of work samples, usually compiled over time and rated using rubrics.
- Simulations -- a competency based measure where a person's abilities are measured in a situation that approximates a "real world" setting. Simulation is primarily used when it is impractical to observe a person performing a task in a real world situation (e.g., on the job).
- Performance appraisals -- systematic measurement of overt demonstration of acquired skills, generally through direct observation in a "real world" situation -- e.g., while student is working on internship or on project for client.
- External examiner -- using an expert in the field from outside your program -- usually from a similar program at another institution -- to conduct, evaluate, or supplement the assessment of your students.
- Oral examinations -- evaluation of student knowledge levels through a face-to-face dialogue between the student and the examiner -- usually faculty.
- Behavioral observations -- measuring the frequency, duration and context of subject's actions, usually in a natural setting with non-interactive methods.
Prus, J. and Johnson, R., "Assessment & Testing Myths and Realities." New Directions for Community Colleges, No. 88, Winter 94.