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Students’ perceptions of assessment: a comparative analysis between Portugal and Sweden

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Abstract

This paper aims at investigating students’ perceptions about assessment, especially the ways in which it is put into practice. Data were collected through questionnaires in different programmes in Portugal and Sweden. In total, 173 students from Portugal and 72 from Sweden participated in the study. Findings showed that students had similar ideas about assessment, such as verification of knowledge and learning, tests and grades. Their experiences of assessment methods used varied in the two countries, which can partly be explained by differences in national education systems. A learner-oriented perspective is prominent in the use of assessment methods, but at the same time student influence on assessment is perceived as low in both countries. Implications of the findings are analysed, namely issues regarding a learner-oriented perspective and the effectiveness, influence, trust, times and methods of assessment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under Grant No SFRH/BD/76175/2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Minho University, Braga, Portugal

    Diana Pereira & Maria Assunção Flores

  2. Mälardalen University, Eskilstuna, Sweden

    Laila Niklasson

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  1. Diana Pereira
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Correspondence to Diana Pereira.

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Pereira, D., Niklasson, L. & Flores, M.A. Students’ perceptions of assessment: a comparative analysis between Portugal and Sweden. High Educ 73, 153–173 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0005-0

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