AGuide – Step 5

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Step 5: Collect Data

Now that your measurement tool is in place and preliminary performance goals are set, you need to decide how you will collect your data: will you measure everyone or a random sample? If the latter, you need to be sure that you have tested a sufficient number to get workable data. For example, if you have 250 majors in your program, surveying only 50 of them will not be sufficient to give you meaningful results. If you have a large number of people or a complicated measurement tool, it may not be feasible to test everyone. In that case sampling is acceptable. If you are unsure how to decide whether or not to sample and how to go about it, contact the Director of Assessment who will be happy to help you. You can also go to www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm to help you calculate how large your sample must be to give you meaningful data.

Probably the easiest way to manage your data will be in some kind of spreadsheet. If you are going to have multiple people using a rubric, you might create a template so you will be sure to get all the data in the same way when the time comes to merge it all together.