B.A. Psychology – Written Communication (2017-2018)

Have formal Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) or Student Learning Outcomes (SLOS) been developed?

Yes

Published where? (website)

Psychology webpage

Do PLOs include or imply link to Core Competency? (AY 2017-2018: Written Communication)?

Yes: PLO1, PLO2, PLO5

Process of Core Competency Assessment:

Course (400- level)

PSY438 – Child Cognition

Assignment

Students will expand their knowledge about child cognition by researching and preparing a scholarly literature review term paper on a topic in child cognition. The paper must be at least16 double-spaced typed pages (excluding cover page and list of citations). The paper must contain at least five citations to peer-reviewed journal articles.

Type of Student Artifact

Literature review in APA style

Rubric or other instrument

GE Rubric for Written Communication

Data (measurement of the competency)

14 papers were read independently by 3 psychology faculty members. Combined inter-rater reliability was excellent at 87% agreement (see Table 1).

3 papers (21%) were rated as advanced (range 3.5 -4.0), 8 papers (57%) were rated as competent (range 2.5 – 3.4), and 3 papers (21%) were rated as emerging (range 1.5 – 2.4).

Papers showed the most strength in language, prose, and syntax (M = 2.99, SD = .51) and the least strength in organization and structure (M = 2.78, SD = .58)

Evaluator Tabular Data

Action Taken in Response to the Data (What will you do in response to the Findings?)

In Fall 2017, the Psychology Department modified all Block 2 courses to offer them as WI. The Psychology Department faculty will meet early in the Fall 2018 semester to discuss the current results and how to move forward to further improve student writing, particularly with regard to organization and structure.

Date of Last Program Review

2010

Psychology

(next review scheduled for the 2018-2019 academic year)