Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Freedman, Kyle
Author's Email Address	kyle_e_freedman@yahoo.com
URN	etd-07052007-144155
Title	Effects of Collaboration on Grade Retention Decision Making
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Alysia D. Roehrig Committee Chair Jeannine Turner Committee Member Susan C. Losh Committee Member
Keywords	Group Polarization Group Decision Making Grade Retention
Date of Defense	2007-06-28
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study examined the impact of collaboration on both the processes and the outcomes of grade retention/promotion decision making. Fifty participants were recruited to participate in the study, with the requirement of having taught at least 1 full year as a classroom teacher in grades K-5. The study involved participants making retention/promotion decisions for 3 vignettes, each depicting a child through a description of characteristics. In addition, participants were asked to list all the relevant factors they considered in making the decision for each vignette. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that for 2 of 3 vignettes, group collaboration had a significant impact on the polarization of decisions. In addition, for all 3 vignettes, participants who collaborated before making the decision cited fewer total factors, and a fewer number of unique factors that they considered in making the decision. Results from the study suggest that group collaboration does play a significant role in affecting both the grade retention/promotion decision-making process, as well as the decision outcome.
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