Assessing Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Techniques Used in Business School Disciplines

• Published in: Journal of education for business Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 125 - 130
• Main Authors: Michlitsch, Joseph F., Sidle, Meg Wright
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2002; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Business Education; Business schools; Case studies; College students; Comparative Analysis; Comparative studies; Educational evaluation; Educational Improvement; Educational objectives; Educational Quality; Evaluation Methods; Grades (Scholastic); Higher Education; Learning; Management information systems; Methods; Outcomes of Education; Pedagogy; Perceptions; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; Student Evaluation; Students; Teaching Methods
• DOI: 10.1080/08832320209599060
• ISSN: 0883-2323

In this study, the authors surveyed U.S. business schools to investigate frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of methods used in assessment of student learning. The authors found that case studies were used frequently, which is consistent with high perceptions of their effectiveness. Their finding that group-process observation and item analysis were used infrequently is consistent with low perceptions of these methods' effectiveness. Five other methods were used fairly frequently. The findings show that, though faculty members use methods appropriate for assigning grades, they demonstrate infrequent use of methods that might be more effective for overall assessment of a program.