How was it for you? Psychophysics and the evaluation of student experience of e-learning

Abstract

Evaluating the student experience of Higher Education has become a matter of national importance in several countries. For example, in England & Wales the National Student Survey (NSS) is administered on line to all students in the final year of their undergraduate degree. The NSS uses 5-point Likert scales, giving extent of agreement or disagreement with positive statements. There are 22 questions, covering 6 aspects of student experience. This presentation considers how psychophysical methods based on signal detection theory or Luceâ s choice theory can be used to analyze such data. Such methods can determine how well the questions discriminate different aspects of experience, as well as how favourably the students experience these aspects of their education. Particular emphasis is given to exploring discipline differences together with the effects of recent technologies, such as managed learning environments and web 2.0 social software.