ERIC Number: EJ1261737
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0888-4080
EISSN: N/A
Frequent Mastery Testing with Second-Chance Exams Leads to Enhanced Student Learning in Undergraduate Engineering
Morphew, Jason W.; Silva, Mariana; Herman, Geoffrey; West, Matthew
Applied Cognitive Psychology, v34 n1 p168-181 Jan-Feb 2020
Laboratory studies have routinely demonstrated that testing often leads to greater learning and retention than repeated studying. In the classroom, this effect has been replicated with memory and application tasks. However, studies of classrooms involving mathematical problem solving are sparse and have had mixed results. This paper presents the results of a quasi-experimental study in an undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics course that investigated more frequent testing that incorporated aspects of mastery testing and second-chance testing. Students in the frequent testing cohort scored seven percentage points higher and earned twice the number of As and half the number of failing grades. The advantage of frequent second-chance mastery testing was found for both multiple-choice and free-response questions and remained after controlling for differences in student ability. Women and underrepresented minority students benefited from the altered testing environment to the same extent as the general population.
Descriptors: Mastery Learning, Testing, Undergraduate Students, Engineering Education, STEM Education, Test Format, Retention (Psychology), Minority Group Students, Females, Instructional Effectiveness
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: CMMI1150490; DUE1347722