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Assessment choice and student anxiety: widening the very gap we are seeking to close?

Bird, Sara; Bennett, Laura

Authors

Sara Bird Sara2.Bird@uwe.ac.uk
Faculty Academic Director - LT&AI

Laura Bennett Laura.Bennett@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Director of Academic Practice



Abstract

Choice of assessment topic and/or mode can facilitate inclusive assessment, allowing students to choose topics reflecting their interests and backgrounds, and choose formats that support strong performance and benefit learning. O’Neill (2011) found that choice reduced anxiety related to assessment in a research-intensive university, in contrast to observations of greater anxiety associated with choice in a post-1992 university with a diverse student population. We share two pilot studies conducted with students and staff that suggest choice of assessment can increase anxiety for certain student groups. We outline proposals for appropriate support to minimise anxiety related to assessment choice. We also invite colleagues to support a large-scale survey engaging diverse student groups to determine whether choice increases attainment gaps for some groups, rather than reducing them as the approach intends.

O’Neill, G. (2011). A practitioner’s guide to choice of assessment methods within a module: Case studies for University College Dublin. Dublin.

Citation

Bird, S., & Bennett, L. (2019, December). Assessment choice and student anxiety: widening the very gap we are seeking to close?. Paper presented at Society for Research in Higher Education Annual Conference, Newport, Wales

Presentation Conference Type Conference Paper (unpublished)
Conference Name Society for Research in Higher Education Annual Conference
Conference Location Newport, Wales
Start Date Dec 11, 2019
End Date Dec 13, 2019
Deposit Date Sep 29, 2021
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7450760