RATING SCALES - NURSESOUTLOOK

RATING SCALES (Directed observation)
DEFINITION :
“Rating is a term applied to expression of opinion or judgement regarding some situation, object or character. Opinion are usually expressed on a scale of values”.
“Rating techniques are devices by which judgement may be qualified. A rating scales is a device by which the opinion concerning a trait can be systematized”.
TYPES OF RATING SCALES :
1)    Descriptive rating scale : Provide for each trait a list of descriptive phrases from which the rates selects the one most applicable item being rated, selected usually by means of a check mark.
2)    Numerical rating scale : The rater assigns a code numbers and approximate number to each trait of the person being rated or to the descriptive phases arranged in order of the degree level intensity or frequency with which they indicate possession or lack of occurrence of each trait. The number of specifications depend on the nature of research problem.
3)    Graphic rating scale :  Descriptive phrases closely correspond to the numerical points on the scale printed horizontally at various points from lowest to highest. The rater indicates the performances standing in respect to each trait by placing a check mark at an appropriate point along the line. Here the degree of each characteristic is arranged so that the rates can make as five distinctions as he whishes to make. This will help the rates to indicate his own performance.
4)    Comparative rating scale. The rates has clear knowledge of the activities of the given groups or individuals. The positions on the rating scale are explicity defined in terms of people with known characteristics. The rates may be asked to specify the comparative ability of a teachers with referenced to the teaching in a college.
USES OF RATING SCALE :
          To evaluate skills, product out comes, activities, interest, attitudes and personal characteristics.`
ADVANTAGES OF RATING SCALE :
-        Easy to administer and to score.
-        Can be used for a large group of students.
-        Wide range of application.
-        Clarity of feedback to student.
DISADVANTAGES :
-        Misuse can result in a consequent decrease in objectivity.
DISIRABLE QUALITIES :
-        Clarity, variety, simple, relevance, objectivity, useful, precision, uniqueness.
PRINCIPLES FOR PREPARING RATING SCALES :
-        It directly related to learning objectives
-        Needs to be confined to performance areas that can be observed.
-        Clearly define the specific trait or mode of behavior
-        The trait or behavior should be readily observable, it should be observed in number of situation.
-        Allow some space in the rating scale card for the rates to give supplementary remarks.
-        3 to 7 rating position may need to be provided.
-        There should be provision to omit items, the teaches feels unqualified to judge.
-        Pooled ratings from more than one observers participation in instrument development will make the scale more objective, clear valid and reliable.
-        All raters should be oriented to the specific scale as well as the process of rating in general.
-        The rates should be unbiased and trained
-        Consider evaluation setting, feed backs and student participation.
-        All raters should be aware that rating scales are open to errors resulting to subjective judgments required of the observers. Errors may be due to leniency contract error and hole effects etc.
-        Change the ends of the scale, so that the ‘good’ is not always at the top or always at the bottom.
-        Assure the rater that his anonymity will be maintained.
LIMITATIONS FOR RATING SCALES :
-        It is difficult or dangerous to fix up rating about may aspects of an individual.
-        Halo effects in the judgment may take place.
-        Chances life the rates may over estimate the qualities of a known person and under estimate those of unknown person.
-        The rates does not want to make extreme judgment chances of subjective evaluation thus the sclas may become unscientific and unreliable.




No comments:

Post a Comment