Measuring Meaning 22
Table 2
Reliability Analysis of a One-Factor Solution for the Meaning of Grades Scale
Item Item
Total
Correlation
Squared
Multiple
Correlation
Alpha if
item
deleted
Grades are arbitrary symbols assigned by
teachers. (R)
0.37 0.25 0.74
Grades do not usually correspond with how
much a student has learned. (R)
0.37 0.28 0.74
Students earn grades.
0.40
0.21
0.74
Students’ performances determine the grade;
teachers just give the grade.
0.33 0.20 0.75
Grades are payment for work.
0.30
0.20
0.75
Grades are certification that a student has
mastered course content.
0.48 0.33 0.73
Grades are meaningless tokens that are just
handed out. (R)
0.42 0.31 0.74
Grades accurately reflect the quality of student
performance.
0.49 0.34 0.73
Grades are merely an indication of student
learning.
0.37 0.25 0.74
Grades tell a student how well s/he is doing in a
class.
0.31 0.18 0.75
Grades provide feedback to tell students what
they need to do.
0.26 0.15 0.75
There is a close relationship between student
effort and a student’s grade.
0.45 0.25 0.73
The primary purpose of grades is to ensure that
high standards of education are maintained.
0.26 0.17 0.75
The primary purpose of grades is to benefit
students.
0.33 0.18 0.75
Reliability Coefficients 12 items
= 0.7582
Note: (R) indicates that an item was reverse scored before the reliability analysis was
undertaken.
Convention