This paper proposes a theory on how students' social background affects their school attainment and job opportunities. I study a set-up where students differ in ability and social background, and I analyse the interaction between a school and an employer. Students with disadvantaged background are penalised compared to other students: they receive…

A three semester, within instructor, interrupted time series analysis of grading practices was conducted in order to observe the effects of the implementation of a plus minus grading system. Over 260 individual instructor's grades were compared before and after implementation of plus minus grading. The results indicate no overall effect of the…

Purpose: This study investigates how the increased use of part-time and nontenure-track instructors may result in grade inflation. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses ten years of registrar data at a Midwest State (USA) institution to perform a multiple regression grade analysis. Findings: Evidence is found that part-time and…

A methodology for efficient measurement of the occurrence and direction of grade inflation using the techniques of price indexing is presented. (MSE)

In an effort to balance common academic outcomes, as measured by common course finals, with faculty's individual teaching styles, Johnson County Community College (Kansas) mathematics faculty developed "core components" for 10 of the mathematics courses offered in Spring 1995. The core components were designed by faculty teaching each…