Grade Inflation Marches On: Grade Increases from the 1990s to 2000s

Grade inflation threatens the integrity of college grades as indicators of academic achievement. In this study, we contribute to the literature on grade inflation by providing the first estimate of the size of grade increases at the student level between the mid‐1990s and mid‐2000s. By controlling f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational measurement, issues and practice issues and practice, 2016-03, Vol.35 (1), p.11-20
Main Authors: Kostal, Jack W., Kuncel, Nathan R., Sackett, Paul R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Academic grading
Achievement Gains
Achievement Rating
College Programs
Course Selection (Students)
Effect Size
grade increases
Grade Inflation
Grades (Scholastic)
Higher education
instructor leniency
Integrity
levels of analysis
Longitudinal Studies
Outcome Measures
Student Characteristics
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Summary:Grade inflation threatens the integrity of college grades as indicators of academic achievement. In this study, we contribute to the literature on grade inflation by providing the first estimate of the size of grade increases at the student level between the mid‐1990s and mid‐2000s. By controlling for student characteristics and course‐taking patterns, we are able to eliminate alternative explanations for grade increases. Our results suggest that grade inflation has occurred across decades, at a small yet non‐negligible rate. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
ISSN:0731-1745
1745-3992
DOI:10.1111/emip.12077