Assessment Futures: Student Voices on Fairness, Feedback, and Evaluation Reform

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Feedback as a Catalyst for Learning: Faculty Practices, Student Engagement, and Assessment Innovation

Abstract

This qualitative study explores university students’ perceptions of assessment and evaluation in higher education. Drawing on student voice theory and critical assessment literacy, the research highlights students as reflective agents who critique existing practices and envision more equitable systems. Data from 32 students across 14 Turkish universities were collected using open-ended interviews and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: emotional responses to assessment, desire for meaningful feedback, perceptions of fairness, visions for reform, and assessment literacy. Findings reveal a shift toward more dialogic, transparent, and student-centered approaches.

Author

• Sema Sulak, Bartin University