Student Perceptions of Assessment Related to Goal Orientation

• In Event: 75.061 - Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: 75.061-7 - Investigating the Student Perspective: Assessment, College Experiences, and Instruction

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate elementary and middle school students’ perceptions of classroom and large-scale assessment to understand how their views and perspectives about testing impact motivation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 63 students. The findings suggest achievement goal orientations influence the way students interpret the results of assessments, particularly grades, teacher feedback, and mistakes, and that particular types of assessment, those that are challenging and completed close to learning, are most helpful in developing a mastery orientation.

Authors

• James H. McMillan, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Amanda Turner, Connecticut State Department of Education