Peer vs. Self-Grading of Practice Exams: Which Is Better?

CBE Life Sciences Education
Mallory A JacksonJennifer H Doherty

Abstract

Practice exams are a type of deliberate practice that have been shown to improve student course performance. Deliberate practice differs from other types of practice, because it is targeted, mentally challenging, can be repeated, and requires feedback. Providing frequent instructor feedback to students, particularly in large classes, can be prohibitive. A possible solution is to have students grade practice exams using an instructor-generated rubric, receiving points only for completion. Students can either grade their own or a peer's work. We investigated whether peer or self-grading had a differential impact on completion of practice exam assignments, performance on practice exams or course exams, or student grading accuracy. We also investigated whether student characteristics mattered. We found that 90% of students took all practice exams or only missed one and that there was no difference on practice or course exam performance between the peer and self-graders. However, in the peer-grading treatment, students with lower incoming grade point averages and students identified as economically or educationally disadvantaged were less accurate and more lenient graders than other students. As there is no clear benefit of peer gra...Continue Reading

References

Jan 8, 2000·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J Kruger, D Dunning
Dec 26, 2001·Annual Review of Psychology·Jacquelynne S Eccles, Allan Wigfield
Aug 22, 2002·Advances in Physiology Education·Nancy J Pelaez
Jun 6, 2007·CBE Life Sciences Education·Scott FreemanMary Pat Wenderoth
Dec 3, 2010·CBE Life Sciences Education·Scott Freeman, John W Parks
Jan 15, 2011·Science·Gerardo Ramirez, Sian L Beilock
Jun 3, 2011·CBE Life Sciences Education·Scott FreemanMary Pat Wenderoth
Mar 7, 2012·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Nicole M StephensRebecca Covarrubias
Jun 6, 2012·CBE Life Sciences Education·Kimberly D Tanner
Sep 4, 2014·CBE Life Sciences Education·Sarah L Eddy, Kelly A Hogan
Jun 19, 2015·CBE Life Sciences Education·Jeffrey Schinske, Kimberly Tanner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 13, 2019·CBE Life Sciences Education·Ido Davidesco, Catherine Milne
Sep 2, 2020·CBE Life Sciences Education·Emily E ScottJennifer H Doherty

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

R
Calibrated Peer Review
JMP Pro

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education : JUNE : a Publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
Anastasia Nagel, Andrea Nicholas
Advances in Health Sciences Education : Theory and Practice
Kemal TurhanEsref Nural
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved