Weber State University   

Political Science

Results of Assessment

1999-2000

During the academic year of 1999-2000 student learning outcome #1 was assessed. That outcome again is: 1. Students should have a basic knowledge of the political institutions and processes of the government of the United States. Outcome #6 had been scheduled for assessment, but was not. It will be assessed in 2002-2003 when outcome #1 is assessed again. For both outcomes an exit exam is to be utilized.

An exit exam was used to assess outcome #1 in 1999-2000. The exam was given in classes with majors who were about to graduate, majors over a year from graduation, and non-majors. While we found the raw numbers that were generated from the exam to be somewhat ambiguous, given the lack of a baseline, or context to place them in, we did find that our majors about to graduate did about 15% better than majors over a year from graduation and non-majors. But again, absent a baseline, or context, we are not sure what to make of these results. Hopefully, when this outcome is assessed again in 2002-2003 we will be able to do more with the data we collect.

This year (2000-2001) we will be assessing outcome #s 4 and 5, which are: 4. Students should be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills or formulate and defend a thesis in a written or oral format; and 5. Students should be able to demonstrate the basic research skills necessary to write a paper in the discipline of political science. The assessment procedures we will use are portfolios and specifically the papers that are produced in our Introduction to Political Science Research course and our Senior Seminar.

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