Graduate Student Instructor Perspectives on Ethical Assessment Practices in Postsecondary Education

• In Event: 16.058 - Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: 16.058-1 - Assessment and Academic Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of instructors in higher education about ethics and assessment practices. Surveys were completed by 61 instructors (e.g., instructors of record or teaching assistants) in a southeastern university. Eighteen scenarios presented ethical dilemmas that instructors indicated were either ethical or unethical. For example, one scenario was “As part of a late classwork policy, a teaching assistant penalizes students one letter grade for turning in assignments past their due date.” Findings include a majority of instructors agreeing on the ethicality of 12 assessment practices. However, two of the scenarios instructors classified as ethical are considered questionable in the assessment literature, and one practice instructors considered unethical is considered appropriate in the literature.

Authors

• Leia K. Cain, University of South Florida

• Robert L. Johnson, University of South Carolina