Thank you!

To Grade or not to Grade, that is the question. Julie Collamer California State University, Bakersfield

HYPOTHESIS The elimination of traditional grading (A,B,C,D or F) in the assessment of assignments completed by junior high students will reduce student nonverbal cues. The elimination of traditional grading (A,B,C,D or F) in the assessment of assignments completed by junior high students will reduce student nonverbal cues. Females show more nonverbal cues than males. 7 th graders show more nonverbal cues than 8 th graders.

Why... Why... Junior High Students? Grades? Nonverbal Stress Cues?

Procedure Teachers/Students will believe that they are teaching/attending a writing workshop. (double blind) The study will actually be looking at the students’ nonverbal reactions when assignments are returned with a letter grade or without a letter grade.

Writing Workshop 50 minute sessions, held Monday through Friday for two weeks. Four weeks at each school site. School #1 7 th - Graded School #2 7 th - No-grade School #1 7 th - Graded School #2 7 th - No-grade 8 th - No-grade 8 th - Graded 8 th - No-grade 8 th - Graded Teacher Students Brief on the writing assignments/topics Supervise students Correct assignments for grammar, content, and style Grade/No-Grade final drafts Complete four in-class writing assignments. Write/revise 4 (5pe)stories/essays Receive Grades or No Grades on assignments. Sessions will be video taped for future observation. Workshop procedure/instructions will be piloted

Independent Variables Grades – The traditional assignment of letter grades (A,B,C,D,orF) and corrections for grammar, content, and style will be indicated on student work. No-Grades – Assignment Complete and corrections for grammar, content, and style will be indicated on student work. Preexisting Variables: Gender (male/female) and Grade Level (7 th /8 th grade) Grades – Two levels

D.V. -Nonverbal Cues The measurements using the Nonverbal Cues scale will be piloted to assure they are appropriate, reliable, and valid. Observers will watch the video tapes and rate the students on the Nonverbal Cues scale. Ratings will occur pre/event/post return of the assignments Reaction Scale 0 = none 1 = mild 2 = moderate 3 = severe

Statistical Analysis Two-way between groups ANOVAs Two-way between groups ANOVAs Graded Non-graded Males Females Graded Non-graded 7 th Grade 8 th Grade  Level of Measurement: Ratio  No Post Hoc Testing n = 20  Assumptions met n > 15

Participants 7 th and 8 th Grade Students 7 th and 8 th Grade Students a. Selection Process d. Have basic writing skills a. Selection Process d. Have basic writing skills b. Random Assignment e. Certificate/Party b. Random Assignment e. Certificate/Party c. No behavior problems c. No behavior problems Demographics – ethnicity, age, gender, SES, Demographics – ethnicity, age, gender, SES, N = 80 7 th Grade (n=40 ) 8 th Grade (n=40) N = 80 7 th Grade (n=40 ) 8 th Grade (n=40) Males (20) Females (20)

Apparatus/Materials School Computer Lab Classroom, Microsoft Word, printers School Computer Lab Classroom, Microsoft Word, printers Curriculum materials Curriculum materials Video Equipment Video Equipment Nonverbal Cues Scale Nonverbal Cues Scale Refreshments Refreshments

Classroom Preparation Video equipment installed/hidden Video equipment installed/hidden Materials organized Materials organized Temperature of room comfortable Temperature of room comfortable Equipment check – computers/printers Equipment check – computers/printers

Research Staff Research Staff 2 – Credentialed Teachers* (retired) properly trained in the curriculum/workshop procedures 2 – Credentialed Teachers* (retired) properly trained in the curriculum/workshop procedures Observers* properly trained in the use of the nonverbal scale Observers* properly trained in the use of the nonverbal scale 2 - Assistants**, good listeners 2 - Assistants**, good listeners *Compensated **Volunteer

Research Ethics Obtain approval from Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, CSUB Obtain approval from Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, CSUB Obtain Informed Consent Obtain Informed Consent School Boards, Principals, School Boards, Principals, Teachers, Parents, Students Teachers, Parents, Students (English/Spanish) (English/Spanish) Debriefing – Yes! Debriefing – Yes!

Threats to Validity Maturation History Testing Instrumentation Regression to the Mean Selection Attrition Diffusion of TX Sequence Effects Sequence Effects No ThreatPossible ThreatProblematic

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