ERIC Number: ED598950
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2019-May
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Assigning a Valid and Reliable Grade in a Course. IDEA Paper #79
Haladyna, Thomas M.
IDEA Center, Inc.
The author discusses valid and reliable ways to assign grades in an academic course in any discipline. "Validity" means the accuracy of a grade's reflection of student learning and achievement. "Reliability" concerns the degree of random error that might be present and affect validity. First the author defines a grade as a measure of achievement, then identifies problems with existing grading practices and outlines principles that lead to valid grading. Grading criteria, which should be carefully and thoughtfully selected, are reviewed and categorized as "highly recommended," "controversial," and "inappropriate." Whichever grading method instructors choose should accurately measure their students' achievement, because a grade represents a contract between instructor and student that accurately reflects a particular level of learning. Finally, the author discusses grade inflation.
Descriptors: Grading, Validity, Reliability, Evaluation Criteria, Higher Education, Grade Inflation, Academic Achievement
IDEA Center, Inc. 301 South Fourth Street Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502. Tel: 800-255-2757; Tel: 785-320-2400; e-mail: info@IDEAedu.org; Web site: http://ideaedu.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: IDEA Center
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A