ERIC Number: EJ1097247
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1449-9789
EISSN: N/A
Reviewing the Review: An Assessment of Dissertation Reviewer Feedback Quality
Lehan, Tara; Hussey, Heather; Mika, Eva
Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, v13 n1 Article 4 2016
Throughout the dissertation process, the chair and committee members provide feedback regarding quality to help the doctoral candidate to produce the highest-quality document and become an independent scholar. Nevertheless, results of previous research suggest that overall dissertation quality generally is poor. Because much of the feedback about dissertation quality provided to candidates, especially those in online learning environments, is written, there is an opportunity to assess the quality of that feedback. In this study, a comparative descriptive design was employed using a random sample of 120 dissertation reviews at one online university. Common foundational errors across dissertations and strengths and growth areas in reviewer feedback were noted. Whereas reviewer feedback quality was acceptable overall, there were significant differences across reviewers. Based on the findings, increased discourse, standardization of psychometrically sound measures that assess reviewer feedback quality, and ongoing training for faculty members who review dissertations might be warranted.
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Doctoral Dissertations, Student Evaluation, Feedback (Response), Evaluators, Educational Quality, Virtual Universities, Psychometrics, Comparative Analysis, Validity, Reliability, Interrater Reliability, Error Patterns, Committees, Distance Education, Statistical Analysis, Nonparametric Statistics
University of Wollongong. Available from: Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources. Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Tel: +61-2-4221-3140; Fax: +61-2-4225-8312; e-mail: jutlp@uow.edu.au; Web site: http://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp
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