Grading INFOWO 2012
Grading of INFOWO is done on the basis of the results of the research project, the preliminary exam and the final exam. The two exams are graded individually and they are focussed on the theoretical knowledge of research methods and statistics. The grading of the research project is done on the basis of the partial and end products of the project and on the participation and attitude during the project.
Preliminary and final exam
The theoretical knowledge of the course is evaluated in a
mid-term exam (after 4 weeks) and a final exam. Both exams
consist mostly of multiple-choice questions on research
methods and inferential statistics. For this students are
expected to perform a number of statistical calculations. The
use of a calculator is permitted. Tables and formulas that you
may need to complete the calculations are handed out during
the exam (see also the Material
page)
Research project
During the course of INFOWO each week students are expected
to hand in a number of partial and end products of the
research project. The lecturer and the teaching assistants
will examine the submissions and will use these to provide
feedback during the workshops.
The grading of the research project is divided into three
parts:
- 20% Process/partial products: the grade is determined by the quality of the partial products and the attitude during the workshops. In principle the whole team will receive the same grade, but (positive and negative) deviations per individual are possible.
- 40% Draft version of research paper: this concerns the draft version of the complete research paper; the grade is determined by the criteria mentioned below.
- 40% Final version of research paper: the grade is mostly
determined by the criteria below and the improvements made to the paper
based on the feedback on the draft version.
A substantial part of the project grade is determined by the
draft version of the research paper. This is done to ensure
the scientific quality of the paper. On the basis of the
feedback it must be possible for each team to achieve a good
grade for the final version.
Criteria for the grading of the research papers
The criteria that will be used to determine the grade of the draft version and the final version of the research paper are:
- Quality and relevance of the research question
- Embedding of the research in existing scientific literature
- Quality of the conceptual model and the hypotheses
- Quality of the operationalisation, (measurement) scales and questionnaire
- Quality of the data-analysis (Cronbachs Alpha, t-test, correlation etc.)
- Quality of the conclusions
- Structure of the paper
- Writing style
Final grade
The final grade is determined by a grade for the theoretical
part (50%) and the practical part (50%). The grade for the
theoretical part is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the
grades for the preliminary and the final exam (so each exam
weighs equally). The grade for the practical part is the grade
for the research project as described above. The grades for
both the theoretical and the practical part must be at least 5
before rounding (so 4.99 is not enough!) in order to complete
the course. The results of the course will be "Unfinished"
("Onvoltooid" in Dutch) if at least one of the grades is below
5. You will not receive a grade for the instruction classes.
Re-exam
You cannot get a second chance for the practical part
(research project), since enough feedback is provided during
the course. To qualify for the second chance exam the grade of
the theoretical part must be at least 4 before rounding.
Students who missed either the midterm or the final exam, can
take part in the second chance exam. For these students the
result of the second chance exam will take the place of the
missing exam result. For students who missed both the midterm
and the final exam, there is no opportunity for a second
chance exam.
Dispensation research project.
Students who completed the research project in 2011 may
receive a dispensation for the research project in 2012,
provided the grade for the practical part in 2011 was at least
6.0 before rounding. To receive dispensation students must
send an email to the lecturer before the end of the first week
of the course. Dispensation is valid only when confirmed by
the lecturer. The grade for the practical part of 2011 will
then contribute to 50% of the final grade.