How Using a Restricted Grading Range Distorts GPAs and Disproportionately Penalizes Low-Performing Students
| Autor: | Elizabeth Wetzler |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
grade
Grade inflation Retrospective review Medical education media_common.quotation_subject 05 social sciences 050301 education grading scale grade penalty GPA grade inflation lcsh:Education (General) 050105 experimental psychology Education Course of action Excellence 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences lcsh:L7-991 Psychology Grading (education) 0503 education Grading scale media_common |
| Zdroj: | Frontiers in Education, Vol 4 (2019) |
| ISSN: | 2504-284X |
| DOI: | 10.3389/feduc.2019.00023 |
| Popis: | This study evaluates how combining multiple grading practices and policies designed to promote excellence, differentiate among high-performing students, or prevent grade inflation at an elite institution affects GPA outcomes for low-performing students. The author evaluated archived performance data from 3,274 cadets completing a required course during a three-year period at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. Common grading practices use a restricted percentage range with a high cut-off value for the D category (67.0-69.9%), and, although used for other grades, USMA policy prohibits the use of plus/minus demarcations for the D grade in GPA calculations. Grade distributions were highly irregular, and, when combined with the lack of plus/minus demarcations for D’s in GPA calculations, the restricted D range in the grading scale resulted in disproportionate GPA penalties for low-performing students. These penalties masked other notable performance differences at higher levels. Recommendations include (a) conducting a benchmark study to determine the appropriate cut-off score for the current course and (b) conducting a comprehensive, retrospective review of cadets’ academic performance data across different courses and semesters to determine the percentage of cadets affected by the disproportionate penalty before deciding on a future course of action. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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