This article describes a multimethod assessment of psychology student outcomes. Nineteen goals and objectives for psychology majors were identified. Attainment of these goals was measured by a multiple-choice test, senior and alumni surveys, a capstone course, and nonintrusive methods. I describe changes in the psychology program that were prompted by the assessment results.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BlumenstykG. (1988, July 20). Diversity is keynote of states' efforts to assess students' learning. The Chronicle of Higher Education, pp. A17, A25–A26.
2.
del ValleC.SchineE. (1992, October 5). A lot less moola moola on campus. Business Week, pp. 114–115.
3.
FinneyP.SnellW.Jr.SebbyR. (1989). Assessment of academic, personal, and career development of alumni from Southeast Missouri State University. Teaching of Psychology, 16, 173–177.
4.
GainesT. (1992, September 15). Panel: Colleges cheat students. The Kansas City Star, pp. A1, A8.
5.
HalpernD. F. (1987). Student outcomes assessment: What institutions stand to gain. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
6.
HalpernD. F. (1988). Assessing student outcomes for psychology majors. Teaching of Psychology, 15, 181–186.
7.
JohnsonD. E. (1992, August). Developing outcomes assessment at a small, private college. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
8.
McGovernT. V.CarrK. F. (1989). Carving out the niche: A review of alumni surveys on undergraduate psychology majors. Teaching of Psychology, 16, 52–57.
9.
McGovernT. V.FurumotoL.HalpernD. F.KimbleG. A.McKeachieW. J. (1991). Liberal education, study in depth, and the arts and sciences major—Psychology. American Psychologist, 46, 598–605.
10.
McGovernT. V.HawksB. K. (1986). The varieties of undergraduate experience. Teaching of Psychology, 13, 174–181.
11.
National Commission on Excellence in Education. (1983). A nation at risk: The imperative for educational reform. Washington, DC: Author.
12.
QuereshiM. Y. (1988). Evaluation of an undergraduate psychology program: Occupational and personal benefits. Teaching of Psychology, 15, 119–123.