JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION STUDIES
Year:2017 | Volume:7 | Issue:19 |Papers Count:7

This study aimed at identifying the factors affecting students' academic progress based on educational data obtained from secondary education and national entrance exam. The statistical population of the study was composed of those undergraduate students (tuition-free and tuition-paying systems) who entered Shahid Beheshti University in September 2009 and were graduated in August 2014. The required data were collected from National Organization for Educational Testing and Shahid Beheshti University. Then, the data were analyzed in terms of mean, variance and median as well as T-test, multiple regression, logistic regression and one-way variance analysis using the SPSS statistical software (Version 22). The results showed that there was a direct relationship between graduate students’ GPA of Diploma, field of study in secondary education, GPA of the pre-university degree and mean score of specialized courses in the University Entrance Exam and their academic progress. However, there was no significant correlation between the type of academic system (tuition-free and tuition-paying systems), the GPA of pre-university degree, quotas of graduate students and the GPA of their B.A. degree. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between gender and GPA of B.A. degree. Besides, there was a significant correlation between GPA of Diploma and GPA of their B.A. degree. In general, the findings of the present study indicated that successful students in secondary education would typically succeed in academic education as well.

The performance measurement of examinees through exerting statistical control on their ability may reveal different results in different gender groups. In this case, gender-related differential item functioning and differential test functioning as well as item/test bias is likely to occur. The main purpose of this research was to investigate the gender-related DIF/DTF and gender-related bias throughout national entrance exams in Iran. Then, special tests of a test booklet in 5 experimental groups participating in national entrance exams were chosen from 2008 to 2011 through one-stage cluster sampling method. Next, logistic regression and item response theory were used to investigate DIF and DTF, respectively. The results showed that, on average, about 14% of investigated test items had gender-related DIF with negligible effect size (EF<0.0001) and about 2% of them were biased against females or males based on experts’ viewpoints. Concerning the DTF analysis, it was shown that except for Dramatic Creativity Test of Art Group, which was a bit biased against females, the other tests were not characterized with DTF.

The main aim of this study was to investigate students’ participation level in assessing the quality of education and its associated factors. This research made use of survey method and the measurement tool was limited to questionnaires. The research statistical population was composed of all the students studying at selected universities (University of Tabriz, University of Isfahan, Allameh Tabatabai University, Shahid Beheshti University, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Bu-Ali Sina University and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad) affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 2013 (N=152400). Then, Cochran’s Formula and stratified sampling method were used to select a sample of 1356 students. In sum, the findings of this study showed that, throughout the selected universities, the mean of students’participation in assessing the quality of education was moderate to high (59.24). Given the results of the path analysis, it was found that the effects of expected benefits, empowerment, social capital, feeling of relative deprivation and the quality of academic education on participation in assessing the quality of education were significant thereof. Actually, the forenamed variables could explain 60% of variations in the dependent variable.

The purpose of the present research was to predict students' mathematical performance based on mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics study skills. The statistical population of this correlational-descriptive study was composed of all the first-grade high school students in Joghatai city (N=354). It should be noted that the latter population was composed of 176 female and 178 male students. Regarding the sampling method, it was decided to make use of census method. Besides, math scores for the first semester of the 2014-2015 academic year, Mathematics Self-efficacy Scale (Midgley & Middleton, 1997) and Mathematics Study Skills Inventory were used to collect the required data. The content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed using the experts’opinions. Furthermore, the reliability of questionnaires was confirmed using Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient. The results showed that mathematics self-efficacy as well as such components as learning strategy, time management and taking the test had a positive and significant relationship with mathematical performance. Besides, the results of stepwise regression showed that mathematical performance could be predicted through mathematics self-efficacy and learning strategy. In addition, in order to evaluate the moderating impact of gender, the results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that gender could modify the relationship between mathematics self-efficacy and mathematical performance.

Recently, the concept of "scientific prestige" has attained an increasingly important status in winning the competitive advantages among universities and higher education institutions. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the direction and stability of relationships among service improvement, relationship quality and mental image on scientific prestige in higher education institutions. This descriptive study was of a causal-correlational type. The statistical population of this study was composed of all students residing in student dormitories of public universities in Semnan city and Sabzevar. A questionnaire was designed by the researcher (s) to measure the research variables and, then, it was distributed among 364 students who were selected by stratified random sampling method. Next, the Independent T-test, One-way ANOVA, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Model were used to analyze the data. The results showed that service improvement played a key role (directly and indirectly) in developing scientific prestige image through relationship quality. Also, the relationship quality had a positive, direct and meaningful impact on university’s scientific prestige image. In addition, the results showed that there was no significant difference between the male and female students in terms of mental image on university’s scientific prestige.

The purpose of this descriptive survey was to investigate the requirements for financing and diversifying the financial resources in public universities. The statistical population of this study was composed of 157 experts and authorities in higher education and public universities. As such, 112 subjects were selected as research sample using stratified random sampling method. The required data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 78 items. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through collecting the viewpoints of experts and its construct validity was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Besides, the Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was calculated (0.97) in order to calculate the reliability of forenamed questionnaire. Regarding the data analysis, it was decided to make use of descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (One-Sample T-test and Friedman Test). The results showed that, from the perspective of the respondents, all requirements were of major importance in financing and diversifying the financial resources in public universities. The results indicated that (in the macro level) policymaking and strategic requirements and economic-financial requirements were the most and least important items, respectively. In the micro level, it was indicated that the motivational requirements and structural requirements were the most and least important items. Considering this fact that the formulated requirements have been among the prerequisites of financing and diversifying the financial resources in public universities, the academic authorities and personnel should consider them in their planning in order to attain higher income thereof.

This descriptive-correlational study aimed at investigating the relationship between the triple factors of students’ score, academic level and employment status of professors and the professors’ assessment scores. The statistical population of this research was composed of all professors of Tarbiat Modares University in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years (N=670). Regarding this, it was attempted to select a total of 336 participants using the purposeful sampling method. Regarding the data collection tools used in relation to professors' assessment scores, it was decided to make use of verified reports prepared by the Office of Faculty Affairs of Tarbiat Modares University. Given the student's scores in the relevant courses, it was tried to make use of Golestan comprehensive reports, which were sufficiently reliable and valid.Then, the Step-Wise Multiple Regression was used to predict the assessment score in relation to the triple factors. The main results of this study indicated that there was a significant and positive correlation between the professors’assessment scores and the triple factors (P£0.05). Actually, the three variables together accounted for about 6% of the variance in the professors’ assessment scores. Also, F statistics, standardized regression coefficients (b) and T statistics were significant in the regression equation (P£0.05).