A new explanation for grade inflation: the long-term development of German university grades

Müller-Benedict, Volker; Gaens, Thomas

doi:10.1080/21568235.2020.1718516

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Finally, as grade inflation has become more pervasive in many courses and in different institutions, [3][4][5][6] it would be rational and fair that an adjustment method must be adopted in processing GWA. Grade inflation is defined as an increase in the grade point average with an associated increase in the student's overall ability.…”

Section: Review Of Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

The Adjustment Factors: Its Validity on the Admissions Process of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM)

2021

Acta Med Philipp

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Background. With the purpose of ensuring fairness and a level playing field in the selection process, the new admissions policy of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) has applied adjustment factors (AF) in the computation of the general weighted averages (GWAs) of applicants.Objective. The objective of the study was to the determine the validity of adjustment factors in ensuring fairness in recalibrating GWAs of applicants for admissions.Methods. This study described the mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses of lateral entrants as well as their historic academic performance such as the mean university predicted grades (UPG), UP College Admissions Test scores (UPCAT) and high school weighted averages (HSWA), National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) scores, pre-medical general weighted average grades (PMGWAG) and Learning Unit 3 Medicine general weighted average grades (LU3 MGWAG). Correlative analysis was done using Pearson's correlation between the mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses and their mean UPG, UPCAT and HSWA and LU3 MGWAG.Results. The study showed that pre-medical courses from UP Manila obtained higher mean AF scores, while those from UP Diliman had better scholastic performance with higher mean UPG, UPCAT HSWA, NMAT, PMGWAG and LU3 MGWAG. Those who obtained a high score in the adjustment factors, namely BS Computer Science in UPM and BS Applied Physics in UPM, ranked lowest in the mean UPG, UPCAT, HSWA and low in NMAT, PMGWAG and LU3 MGWAG. The reverse was also true as those courses that ranked high in the mean UPG, UPCAT and HSWA, namely BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology UPD, BS Psychology UPD and BS Biology UPD, acquired relatively low mean AF scores. Within statistical significance, inverse correlation was established between mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses and mean UPG and UPCAT scores. Conclusion.The study invalidated the use of AFs in the admissions process of UPCM. The AF did not guarantee fairness in the selection process, as it merely lowered down the GWAs of those who performed academically well in pre-medical courses. The current formula for the computation of AF is grounded on faulty assumption that high GWAs were all due to grade inflation. It is therefore recommended that implementation of the AF be immediately held in abeyance until its validity issues are resolved.

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Section: Review Of Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

The Adjustment Factors: Its Validity on the Admissions Process of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM)

2021

Acta Med Philipp

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“…Grading bias may also lead to welfare costs due to inefficient allocations of higher education investments. Various grading reforms and trends of more lenient grading have contributed to grade inflation in many countries, for example, in the U.S (Rojstaczer & Healy, 2012 ), Germany (Müller‐Benedict & Gaens, 2020 ) and Sweden (Vlachos, 2011 ; Wikström & Wikström, 2005 ). As a result, consequences of systematic grading biases have received growing attention in the literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grading bias and young adult mental health

et al. 2022

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Various grading reforms and trends of more lenient grading have contributed to grade inflation in Sweden and other countries. Previous research shows that over-grading increases higher education enrolment, achievements and earnings, but no study has yet addressed the potential impact of grading bias on health. In this paper, we hypothesize that over-grading has a protective impact on mental health, either through a direct effect of performance feedback, or through mechanisms such as self-efficacy and university admission distortions. We test this hypothesis using Swedish individual-level register data for individuals graduating from upper secondary school in the years 2001-2004. Grading bias, which we interpret as over-grading, is constructed as the residual of final upper secondary school grades having controlled for results in a standardised test, itself not subject to grading leniency. Over-grading is further isolated by considering only within-school variation in over-grading and controlling for prior grades and school production. We show that over-grading has substantial significant protective impacts on the mental health of young adults, but only among female students. That grades themselves, independent of knowledge, substantially impact the production of health highlights an important health production mechanism, and also implies that any changes to the design of grading systems must consider these wider health implications.

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The death of exams? Grade inflation and student satisfaction when coursework replaces exams

Stankov

2024

International Review of Economics Education

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A new explanation for grade inflation: the long-term development of German university grades

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

The Adjustment Factors: Its Validity on the Admissions Process of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM)

The Adjustment Factors: Its Validity on the Admissions Process of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM)

Grading bias and young adult mental health

The death of exams? Grade inflation and student satisfaction when coursework replaces exams

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