The problem of optimal scale of assessment as a tool of a teacher’s work

Our study is aimed to determine the degree of uncertainty given by well-known in the education system rating scales: 5, 12 and 100 points. It was assumed that this error increases when the scale volume exceeds the limits of attention of the evaluating person (“observer’s bandwidth” by J.A. Miller): 7±2. To test the hypothesis, an experiment was conducted in which subjects were asked to estimate a written school work in 5-, 12- and 100-point systems. We determined the degree of consistency of ratings in different subjects, which arises in the application of each of these three scales. The study involved 68 third year Philology students of Donetsk National University. High consistency is found in scores on 5 and 12-point scales, and low when using a 100-point scale. Thus, the quality of the rating scale as a tool for estimating drops significantly as its volume significantly exceeds the capacity of attention. With its slight excess (12-point scale), the quality drop is not observed, presumably, due to ease of compensatory cognitive processes relative to the scale.

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