Objective measures

Cross Sources:  Subjective measures, Selective response format Definition:  Tests or measures that can be scored without need for subjective judgment (e.g., multiple-choice format) Reference:  Stratton, P., & Hayes, N. (1993).

Objectives

Cross Sources:  Goals Definition:  Refers to the specific knowledge, skills, or attitudes that students are expected to achieve through their college experience; expected or intended student outcomes Reference:

Observation

Cross Sources:  Qualitative method, Subjective measure Definition:  Observation is an everyday skill, which is methodologically systemized and applied, in qualitative research. It is a data collection procedure or tool. Reference:  Flick, U. (1998).

Occupational Exploration

Cross Sources:  Career Awareness Definition:  An awareness of a wide variety of occupations and the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to obtain them Reference:

Occupational Skills Attainment

Cross Sources:   Definition:  Proficiency to perform actual tasks and technical functions required by certain occupational fields at entry, intermediate or advanced levels. Reference:

Open-ended

Cross Sources:  Instrument design Definition:  In test construction, open-ended items require an examinee to construct a response to a given prompt, for example a short answer or essay. Reference:  Bennett, R.E., & Ward, W.C. (1993).

Oral communication skills

Cross Sources:  Communication skills, interpersonal communication Definition:  Communication is the process of people sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings with each other in commonly understandable ways. Reference:  Hamilton, C., & Parker, C. (1996).

Oral communication skills

Cross Sources:  Communication skills Definition:  Human communication is a process during which source individuals initiate messages using conventionalized symbols, nonverbal signs, and contextual cues to express meanings by transmitting information in such a way that the receiving party constructs similar or parallel understandings or parties toward whom the messages are directed. Reference:  DeFlur, M. L., Kearney, P., & Plax, T. G. (1993).

Outcome measure

Cross Sources:  Student outcomes Definition:  Instruments used for gathering information on student learning and development Reference:

Outcomes

Cross Sources:  Objectives, Learning outcomes, Student outcomes Definition:  Refers to the specific knowledge, skills, or developmental attributes that students actually develop through their college experience; assessment results Reference:

Output

Cross Sources:  Outcome Definition:  Anything an institution or system produces. Direct products of a program's activities and usually are measured in terms of the volume of work accomplished, for example, the number of classes taught, counseling sessions conducted, educational materials distributed, and participants served. Outputs have little inherent value in themselves,” but lead to outcomes or benefits (p. 1)" Reference:  Hatry, H., van Houten, T., Plantz, M., & Greenway, M.T. (1996).

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For any comments regarding new terms or suggested definitions for this Dictionary, please write to :   assessment@jmu.edu. Thank you.