The Effect of Scoring Criteria Specificity on Peer and Self-assessment

The value of peer and self-assessments is commonly diminished by scoring range restriction by the raters. This investigation studied the effect of different levels of scoring criteria specificity and written feedback requests on the distribution of scores, the correlation between peer and self-assessments and the quantity and nature of written feedback. Increasing the number of criteria decreased the mean scores and increased the standard deviations of the peer and self-assessments, providing a wider range of scores and increasing the sensitivity of the instrument. Correlation between peer and self-assessment was improved with more specific criteria, depending on the statistic used. However, analysis revealed that the more specific written feedback requests elicited more peer feedback. Educators should consider the effects of criteria specificity and written feedback solicitation on rater behaviour when designing these instruments.