ERIC Number: EJ1149585
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2161-4210
EISSN: N/A
Proof in the Pudding: Implications of Measure Selection in Academic Outcomes Assessment
Priniski, Stacy J.; Winterrowd, Erin
Research & Practice in Assessment, v12 p32-43 Sum 2017
Academic outcomes assessment in student affairs is integral for both service improvement and demonstrating the unit's value to the university's academic mission. However, identifying the right measures is challenging. We implemented three common measures (pre-post self-reported academic functioning, retrospective perceptions of service impact, and semester grades) within a single counseling center client sample (N = 368) and examined the impact of measure selection on the representativeness of client subsamples and the conclusions that might be drawn about service effectiveness. Students' perceptions of academic outcomes suggested greater impact than pre-post or grade measures overall but all three showed positive effects for clients identified as academically at-risk at baseline. No single measure captured a fully representative sample of clients. Rather than providing evidence for one "best" measure, results point to the importance of using multiple measures to assess academic outcomes. Implications for best practices in service outcomes assessment are discussed.
Descriptors: Student Personnel Services, College Outcomes Assessment, Pretests Posttests, Measurement Techniques, Selection, Guidance Centers, Grade Point Average, Undergraduate Students, Comparative Analysis, Questionnaires
Virginia Assessment Group. Tel: 504-314-2898; Fax: 504-247-1232; e-mail: editor@rpajournal.com; Web site: http://www.rpajournal.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