Note: Some textual data can be coded into a numerical form and analyzed as quantitative data. Qualitative data can be useful for answering “why” and “how” questions about student performance, approach, motivation, or experience. Qualitative data can come from a variety of sources including open-ended survey questions, focus group notes, essay responses, and student portfolios, for example. Qualitative data consists primarily of words and observations, rather than numbers.Quantitative data analysis relies on numerical scores or ratings and is helpful in evaluation because it can provide quantifiable results that are easy to calculate and display.Generally, data collected for program-level assessment fall into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Analyzing the data - in context - gives meaning to the information collected and is essential to appropriately utilize and communicate the assessment results.

WSU Celebration of Assessment ExcellenceĪssessment data provide a means to look at student performance to offer evidence about student learning in the curriculum, provide information about program strengths and weaknesses, and guide decision-making.

Writing Your Program Report (log-in required).

General Assignment Design Good Practices.

Working Groups Supporting Program Assessment at WSU.

WSU Accreditation and Program Assessment.

Teachers tools for data analysis