Using the "Bell Curve"

[Jawo]

I am looking into what the negatives of using the bell curve for evaluations are. I have been looking on Google, Yahoo, etc, but wondering if ATOT could assist/enlighten me 😉

 

[Jawo]

Anyone???

 

[MrScott81]

I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Yes, one of it's shortcomings is that it's all relative.

For example, while you may be at the far right of the bell curve (99%), that could still be far below a minimum standard that should be met.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Either way...if you are on the lower end of that scale, it still means you do not actually know that much.

However, you could be below avg, but still pass.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Either way...if you are on the lower end of that scale, it still means you do not actually know that much.

Actually it depends. If the distribution of scores is such that the highest is an 85 and the lowest is an 81, that 81 scoring person could still receive an F. Hell, if everyone in the class scores an 84-85 and the lowest is an 83.9, that 83.9 would get you an F.

 

[Tiamat]

Not all statistics are Gaussian in nature...

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Either way...if you are on the lower end of that scale, it still means you do not actually know that much.

Actually it depends. If the distribution of scores is such that the highest is an 85 and the lowest is an 81, that 81 scoring person could still receive an F. Hell, if everyone in the class scores an 84-85 and the lowest is an 83.9, that 83.9 would get you an F.

if that is the case, then you would not even use a bell curve.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Either way...if you are on the lower end of that scale, it still means you do not actually know that much.

Actually it depends. If the distribution of scores is such that the highest is an 85 and the lowest is an 81, that 81 scoring person could still receive an F. Hell, if everyone in the class scores an 84-85 and the lowest is an 83.9, that 83.9 would get you an F.

if that is the case, then you would not even use a bell curve.

Hence one of the shortcomings of applying a bell curve to certain data sets.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: MrScott81
I hate it because it measures how much you know relative to the rest of the class, rather than how much you actually know.

Either way...if you are on the lower end of that scale, it still means you do not actually know that much.

Actually it depends. If the distribution of scores is such that the highest is an 85 and the lowest is an 81, that 81 scoring person could still receive an F. Hell, if everyone in the class scores an 84-85 and the lowest is an 83.9, that 83.9 would get you an F.

if that is the case, then you would not even use a bell curve.

Hence one of the shortcomings of applying a bell curve to certain data sets.

Yup...does anyone have anedoctal published evidence?