Differential attrition may explain the reported reduction in achievement gaps under daily online testing¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2021 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Course drops nearly doubled from 32 in 2008 to 58 in 2011 when daily quizzes increased rigor, and lower-SES students drop at higher rates, so attrition could shrink the observed SES gap. → Robinson 2021

Evidence¶

Robinson 2021¶

Robinson, D. H. (2021). A Complete SMOCkery: Daily Online Testing Did Not Boost College Performance. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09588-0

q2 · i? · associational · r1

Examination of the differential-attrition threat comparing drop counts across the 2008 and 2011 course offerings. The author reasons that if many dropouts were lower middle class, "any analysis would show a reduction in the performance differences between the low and high middle-class students".

"in 2008 when the psychology course was less rigorous with no daily quizzes, only 32 students dropped the course. Comparatively, in 2011 when the rigor was increased, almost twice as many students (58) dropped. Students from lower SES families unfortunately tend to drop courses at higher rates than do their richer counterparts."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Online attrition during Orientation Week is twice that of onground classes' first week — related
• Student performance increases attributed to daily online testing can be fully explained by selection bias in major composition — related
• Online continuing education courses show lower persistence than comparable onground courses (79% vs 84%) over eight quarters — related
• Self-reported withdrawal reasons are largely similar online and onground, led by no/other reason, transfer, and schedule conflict — related
• A sense of belonging is firmly linked with improved student attainment, increased learners' satisfaction and reduced attrition rates in campus-based learning — related