ERIC Number: ED518135
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The High-Stakes Effects of "Low-Stakes" Testing
Papay, John P.; Murnane, Richard J.; Willett, John B.
Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness
In this paper, the authors examine how information that students receive about their academic performance affects their decisions to enroll in post-secondary education. In particular, they look at one specific piece of data--student performance on the state standardized mathematics test in grades 8 and 10 in Massachusetts. One key feature of such test-based accountability systems is that every student receives not only a test score but also a label based on their performance (for example, Failing, Needs Improvement, Proficient, or Advanced). The state assigns the labels by determining three cut-points that divide the fine-grained test score distribution into four regions. Given that understanding detailed test information can be a costly task, it makes sense to have a parsimonious summary that is easy for parents and students to interpret. To summarize, their specific research questions are: (1) Does the performance label information that urban, low-income students receive on the Massachusetts state mathematics test affect their post-secondary plans and their college enrollment decisions?; (2) Are the college enrollment decisions of students who did not initially plan to attend a four-year college more sensitive to new performance information than the decisions of students with college-going plans?; and (3) Does prior test performance shed light on the relative importance of encouragement and discouragement effects for particular students? (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Standardized Tests, Mathematics Tests, Scores, Labeling (of Persons), Enrollment, Postsecondary Education, Enrollment Influences, Low Income Groups, Urban Youth, Grade 8, Grade 10, Students
Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. 2040 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208. Tel: 202-495-0920; Fax: 202-640-4401; e-mail: inquiries@sree.org; Web site: http://www.sree.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Grade 8; High Schools; Higher Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE)
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A