The Influence of Two-Stage Collaborative Testing on Peer Relationships: A Study of First-Year University Student Perceptions

Abstract

Two-stage testing is a form of collaborative assessment that creates an active learning environment during test taking. In two-stage testing, students first complete an exam individually, and then complete a subset of the same questions as part of a learning team with the ultimate exam score being a weighted average of the individual and team portions. In the second (team-based) part of the exam, students are encouraged to discuss solutions until a consensus among team members is achieved, thus actively engaging students with course material and each other during the exam. A short open-ended survey was administered to students at the end of the semester, and the responses coded by thematic analysis, with themes generated using inductive coding based on the principles of grounded theory. The most important conclusion was that students overwhelmingly preferred two-stage tests for the development of positive peer relationships in class. The most common themes that emerged from student responses involved positive feelings from forced interaction with their peers, the benefits of meeting and socializing with other students, sharing of knowledge with others, and solidarity or positive affect towards the process of working as part of a team. Finally, students also expressed an overall preference for two-stage exams when compared to solely individual, one-stage exams.