Assessment Methods

For purposes of assessment, evidence takes two forms.  It can be derived from either direct or indirect methods.   

Direct Methods of Assessment

These methods are processes by which evidence of learning is obtained from student performance.  Direct methods are about the demonstration of student learning.  They require a student to show, in some way, what they can do and what they have learned.  The following list is representative of direct methods of assessment. 

• Comprehensive Examinations
• Writing proficiency Examinations
• National Examinations assessing subject matter knowledge
• Graduate Record Exam General Test
• Graduate Record Exam Subject Test
• Certification Examinations
• Licensure Examinations
• Locally developed pre-test or post-test for subject matter knowledge
• Senior thesis or major project
• Portfolio evaluation of student work
• Capstone courses
• Audio or Video tape evaluations

Indirect Methods of Assessment

Indirect methods of assessment tend to be perception or comparison data.  They include such things as benchmarking practices and student satisfaction surveys.  These methods provide important sources of supporting data in the assessment process but they are not adequate as an assessment process in and of themselves since they do not measure how well a student has met learning goals.  They work in conjunction with direct methods in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of student learning. 

• Comparison or benchmarking with peer institutions
• Job placement of graduates
• Employer surveys
• Advisory groups from your profession
• Graduate school acceptance rates
• Student graduation/retention rates
• Exit interviews with students graduating or leaving the program
• Student satisfaction surveys
• Student course evaluations
• Focus group discussions
• Alumni surveys
• Alumni honors, awards, achievements
• Analysis of grade distributions
• Peer review of courses
• Peer review of program
• Curriculum/syllabus analysis
• Community service/volunteerism participation