2024 Participate in Research at the Assessment Institute
Join Erica Eckert, Assessment Update Associate Editor and Assistant Professor at Kent State University, by volunteering to participate in one or more assessment- and accreditation-related research studies during your time at the 2024 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis.
Research Studies
Study #1: Assessment Professionals’ Experiences
Assessment work can be both rewarding and challenging. If assessment is a substantial portion of your day-to-day work, please consider participating in a study titled “Qualitative Study of Assessment Practitioners’ Experiences in the Workplace.”
Participants will be asked about their feelings about their work, workload, interpersonal dynamics in their office or unit, their interactions with other units, the resources and support they receive, and how they situate this role in their wider career trajectory. The purpose of this study is to better understand the realities of assessment work and entreat institutional leaders to support this work.
Study #2: Accreditation Peer Reviewers Experiences
Peer reviewers are a crucial part of the accreditation process. If you currently or have recently served a peer reviewer for an institutional (formerly regional) or programmatic (also known disciplinary and/or specialized) accreditor, please consider participating in a study titled “Qualitative Study of Accreditation Peer Reviewer Perspectives on Service.”
Participants will be asked about their thoughts on their role and responsibilities as peer reviewers, the time and labor required for reviews, the value of being a peer reviewer, and how reviewers situate this role in a wider career trajectory. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of peer reviewers and how they approach their work.
Study #3: Perspectives on Programmatic Accreditation
Programmatic accreditation is a crucial process through which programs signal quality in the United States. If you work with programmatic accreditation in some way (e.g., preparing reports, collecting data, meeting with site visit team), please consider participating in a study titled “Qualitative and Q-Study of Perspectives on Accreditation.”
Participants will be asked to illustrate their perspectives on accreditation in higher education by performing a Q-sort. A Q-sort is an independent (but guided) activity requiring a participant to sort a set of statements along a forced distribution. Q-sorts are the foundation of Q-methodology, a mixed-method approach for defining areas of difference and consensus on an issue or phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to define the various perspectives held on accreditation so we can formulate recommendations for more effective accreditation-related collaboration.
How to Participate
Participants will be asked to participate in a 45-minute interview (during a 60-minute time block) with a research team member during the 2024 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis, held Sunday, October 27, 2024, through Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Research participants must be registered Institute attendees to volunteer for these research studies.
For more information, please complete this form to express interest in participating in Study #1 (Assessment Professionals), Study #2 (Peer Reviewers), and/or Study #3 (Accreditation Perspectives).
Note: These projects have been approved by the Kent State University Institutional Review Board; if you have any questions, please contact Erica Eckert at eeckert@kent.edu.