Perceptions of Assessment Among Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students of Four Health Science Disciplines

Authors

Wayne J. Wilson, The University of Queensland - BrisbaneFollow
Anne Bennison, The University of Queensland - Brisbane
Wendy Arnott, The University of Queensland - Brisbane
Clair Hughes, The University of Queensland - Brisbane
Rosemary Isles, The University of Queensland - Brisbane
Jenny Strong, The University of Queensland - Brisbane

Abstract

The use of different types of assessment to improve student learning needs to be balanced with reports that student perception, rather than the objective features of the task, significantly influences how students approach learning. The present study surveyed 492 undergraduate and postgraduate students from four health science disciplines (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, and audiology) at a large Australian university on how helpful different types of assessment had been in assisting their learning. Between 73.4% and 90.4% of the students valued practical exams, individual tasks, written assignments, and written exams requiring application of knowledge. Between 29.1% and 59.7% of the students valued oral presentations, group tasks, portfolios, online assessment, and multiple choice exams. Entry level and type of program were found to influence perceptions. Postgraduate students valued tutorial participation more than undergraduate students (p

Author Bio(s)

• Wayne Wilson, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Audiology, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and Visiting Associate Professor, School of Human and Community Development, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Anne Bennison, Bed, Project Officer, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
• Wendy Arnott, PhD, Lecturer in Speech Pathology, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
• Clair Hughes, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Tertiary Education Development Unit, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
• Rosemary Isles, MEd, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
• Jenny Strong, PhD, Professor of Occupational Therapy, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a university Strategic Teaching & Learning Grant award.

DOI

10.46743/1540-580X/2014.1485

Recommended Citation

Wilson WJ, Bennison A, Arnott W, Hughes C, Isles R, Strong J. Perceptions of Assessment Among Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students of Four Health Science Disciplines. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2014 Apr 01;12(2), Article 11.