SIG 4 - Assessment of Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation

Content

This Special Interest Group (SIG) focuses on different aspects of assessment of scientific reasoning and argumentation (SRA). The first topics we’re going to cover are:

- Instruments for the assessment of SRA;

- Statistical methods in the assessment of SRA;

- Theoretical foundations of the assessment SRA;

- The role of assessment for Learning.

To get an overview of “what is going on in the assessment of SRA” we first have a look at different assessment instruments for SRA from different domains. We try to identify commonalities and differences between the instruments as well as advantages and disadvantages of their approach to assessment.

After this, we will go back to theory and talk about the different purposes of assessment, including the role of assessment for learning. This leads to one of the great discussions of the last years about the summative and formative aspects of assessments and the questions, which aspect should be in the focus.

From there we will go on to statistical methods in the assessment of SRA which will be very relevant for all Ph.D. Students and should yield to less flaws in data analysis in all of our works.