The social representations of students on a bachelor's degree course at an Institute of Higher Education about learning assessment

data revealed using the free word association

Abstract

This study is part of the International Research Network of Teachers' Professional Development (RIDEP). It assumes that the evaluative practices carried out in Higher Education Institutions can be understood through the identification of students' social representations of the assessment tools used by their teachers. From a quantitative-qualitative, descriptive nature, based on Moscovici's Social Representations Theory and Abric's Central Core structural approach. The study aims to understand the Social Representations of students in a bachelor's degree program at a Higher Education Institution. Thirty-five students participated in the research, data collection was done through a questionnaire and the TALP - Free Association Word Technique. The software EVOC was used for word analysis. The results indicate that the likely central core of students' social representations, regarding the assessment tools used in their program, may be represented by the words Excellent, Exams, and Outdated.