STUDY SKILLS BOOK: GETTING A GOOD DEGREE IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

I have been commissioned by Sage to write a book containing information about how to successfully develop an understanding of the study skills, qualities and competencies necessary to obtain a good degree in the social sciences.  My co-author is Hilary Arksey from the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York.  Our aim is to take an evaluative and critical approach to both study skills and to the academic conventions that underpin them.  The first part of the book, however, will be based on new empirical data from successful students themselves, lecturers and employers.

We are keen to hear the views of university lecturers to find out just what they are looking for when they assess undergraduates’ work.  Our aim is to flesh out just what is meant by terms like ‘sparkle’, ‘critical style’, ‘balance’, ‘objectivity’ and the like.  To this end, we would be grateful if you could answer the questions below; it would be very helpful if you could give examples to illustrate your responses. 

To complete the survey, record your responses below the relevant question and submit your reply to me. You can select and copy the questionnaire then paste it into a wordprocessor, and add your replies directly under the questions. Please email it back to me as soon as possible (darris@blueyonder.co.uk). Your answers are completely confidential and only Hilary and I will have access to your completed responses.

Background and teaching responsibilities

  1. Please list the courses you teach, and for what level of student

 

  1. Which country do you work in?

 

Training (please add details)

  1. Have you ever been trained or briefed about the sort of student assessment you are expected to do?   

 

  1. Have you ever been you trained in the design of assessment?

 

  1. Have you ever been trained in the actual processes of grading?

 

Criteria (please add details)

  1. Do you have explicit criteria to guide your grading?

 

  1. Are students aware of these criteria?

 

  1. How straightforward is it to apply the criteria?

 

  1. Can you give us any examples of when you have had problems applying the criteria?

 

  1. Does the type of assignment (exam, essay, test, portfolio etc) make a difference to how you grade?   In what way? 

 

  1. Do you find you still need to use your judgement in applying the criteria?

 

  1. Are the grades you award usually agreed with work colleagues (or external examiners) or are there many disputes?

 

  1. How are disputes (if any) actually resolved?  Can you give us any illustrative examples?

 

Top grade work (please add details)

  1. What exactly are you looking for in a top grade piece of student work?  

 

  1. What qualities define a top grade assignment for you?

 

  1. What would get a top grade for a first-year piece and how would this compare to a final-year piece?

 

Student mistakes (please add details)

  1. Are there are common mistakes that students make, or common areas of weakness, which lead to them losing marks?

 

  1. Please give a brief list of main ‘dos’ and ‘donts’ for beginners aiming at a top grade.

 

Advice and hints (please add details)

  1. What advice would you give to any students hoping to achieve top grades for you?

 

  1. Do you ever offer students hints or tips on how to do well? (and if so, what are they?)

 

  1. (If relevant) Do you hint differently in formal and informal settings?

 

Finally (please add details)

  1. Can you briefly describe a recent piece of work that got a top grade from you?

 

  1.  Can you briefly describe a recent piece of work that got a low grade from you?  What could the student have done to achieve a higher grade?

 

Thank you very much for your help. Would you be willing to be contacted for any subsequent follow-up inquiries? Please email me if there are any comments or questions.

The book should be appearing in 2005/6.

Best wishes

Dave