Enhancing the assessment and the feedback in higher education
Quality Assurance in Education
ISSN: 0968-4883
Article publication date: 18 December 2023
Issue publication date: 18 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Lack of appropriate student support and drawbacks in academic progression signify the importance of enhancing assessment and feedback in higher education (HE). Although assessment and feedback are significant in HE, minimal empirical research holistically explores the best practices. This study aims to address the niche and develop a decisive guideline for enhancing assessment setting and feedback provision within HE curricula.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic approach was taken to obtain data for the study: a literature review underpinning the thematic content analysis of study documents, followed by semi-structured interviews. Document analysis contained mid-module reviews/student feedback; rubrics used in assessment; and formative/summative feedback provided for the graded work. Documental analysis informed the key attributes of the semi-structured interview. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) analysis identified the influence and reliance of each driver.
Findings
This study revealed 15 drivers – 4 fundamental, 6 significant and 5 important – for enhancing assessment and feedback. The level partitioning from the ISM analysis established that all assessment and feedback needs to be underpinned by the university policy and fed into the assessment regime and marking scheme. This study identified that National Student Survey results were significantly improved due to implementing said drivers compared with the national and sector benchmarks.
Practical implications
The developed drivers enable the best practices in assessment setting and feedback provision. The level partition diagram can be used as a decisive guideline or a provisional framework in assessment and feedback provision for quality assurance in HE.
Originality/value
This study is one of, if not the only, to develop a guideline for signposting drivers and their influence and reliance to enhance assessment and feedback in a holistic HE setting. The developed drivers and the level partition diagram bring novelty and add to the current body of knowledge.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The data obtained for the study was based on a project guided by a steering committee within the University of Wolverhampton, chaired by Professor Mohammed Arif. Credit must be given to Mr Anthony Hatfield, Dr Shashank Gupta, Ms Olive White and Ms Jennifer Charlson for their significant input in the data collection. Furthermore, the authors appreciate the students and academic participants for their insightful comments.
Citation
Gomis, K., Saini, M., Arif, M. and Pathirage, C. (2024), "Enhancing the assessment and the feedback in higher education", Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 165-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-01-2023-0004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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