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ERIC Number: EJ1454225
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0047-231X
EISSN: EISSN-1943-4898
Available Date: N/A
Chemistry Students' Views of Taking an Oral Exam
Susan Ramlo; Carrie Salmon; Yuan Xue
Journal of College Science Teaching, v54 n1 p1-7 2025
Research shows that there are multiple benefits to giving college students oral rather than written exams. However, studies that examine, describe, and differentiate how students view their oral exams were never found in a literature search. The purpose of this study was to use Q methodology [Q] to describe the divergent student views about taking an oral exam in either Introductory Chemistry or Organic Chemistry. Q was specifically designed to scientifically study subjectivity in a way that allows researchers to both describe and differentiate the multiple views on a topic. Participants sorted 36 statements related to their oral exam experience into a grid with columns that represented a continuum from Most Like My View to Most Unlike My View. Analyses of the 64 Q-sorts revealed two unique viewpoints. One view represented students who felt confident about their test taking skills and knowledge prior to, during, and after the oral exam. View 2 students reported being anxious before and during the oral exam. These students felt unsure about how to prepare for and about what they could bring to the oral exam. Implications for improving oral examinations and decreasing test anxiety, from the perspective of the students, are discussed.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A