The effect of N=N on study performance, motivation and student characteristics

CLI Research Projects

Rob Kickert (ESSB) concludes in his thesis 'Raising the bar' that setting higher standards seems to increase students' study progress, examination grades, self-regulation and motivation.

From 2011, Erasmus University Rotterdam raised the standards of the Binding Study Advice (BSA) at all faculties, under the name Nominaal is Normaal (Nominal is Normal, N=N). Rob Kickert (ESSB) concludes in his thesis 'Raising the bar' that setting higher standards seems to increase students' study progress, examination grades, self-regulation and motivation. However, he also warns of the risks of higher standards: when exams do not sufficiently match learning objectives, performance may be better, but less learning takes place.

Deliverables

Kickert, R. (2020). Raising the Bar: Higher education students’ sensitivity to the assessment policy. [Doctoral Thesis, Erasmus University Rotterdam]. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR). 

Read Thesis here.

Researcher
dr. Rob Kickert
Rob Kickert is an assistant professor at the Educatieve Master Primair Onderwijs (EMPO, Educational Master's Degree Primary Education), responsible for the implementation, quality assurance and research into EMPO's programmatic assessment (PA) . He investigates ways to optimize alignment of assessments with educational goals.
More information

This research is done as part of the four-year research program on educational quality and study success. The CLI is funding a portion of these research projects. See more.

Related content
CLI Fellow Rob Kickert researches optimizing PA, both in terms of student motivation and decision-making within EMPO.
Rob Kickert

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