ERIC Number: EJ1068856
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2231-3338
EISSN: N/A
The Trouble with the Curve: An Argument for the Abolishment of Norm-Referenced Evaluation
Raymond, Gregory
Journal on English Language Teaching, v3 n1 p1-9 Jan-Mar 2013
The norm-referenced evaluation system has been used to grade students, from elementary to post-secondary, for decades. However, the system itself is inherently flawed. Looking at the history of the norm-referenced system and its most famous tool, the Bell Curve, and taking examples from the author's own teaching experience, this paper examines the erroneous logic that makes the system, as a whole, invalid for grading at any level, particular for college or university. The paper goes on to propose alternatives to the norm-referenced system. Examining first a self-referenced system, and ultimately finding it, too, lacking, the paper turns to criterion-referenced evaluation. Criterion-referenced evaluation is shown to be not only the best choice for evaluation at a post-secondary level, but also proves to be the only viably fair system available to teachers in today's, grade-emphasised education system.
Descriptors: Student Evaluation, Evaluation Methods, Norm Referenced Tests, Grading, Criterion Referenced Tests, College Students, Summative Evaluation, Formative Evaluation, Grades (Scholastic), Achievement Gains
i-manager Publications. 3-343 Hill View, Town Railway Nagar, Nagercoil 629001, Tamil Nadu, India. Tel: +91-4652-276675; e-mail: info@imanagerpublications.com; Web site: http://www.imanagerpublications.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A