Is continuous assessment inclusive? An analysis of factors influencing student grades

Figures & data

Table 1. Percentage of students with Additional Learning Needs in the current sample according to diagnosis (as listed in university records).

Diagnosis	Percentage
Mental health condition (e.g. depression)	36.6%
Dyslexia/dyscalculia/ADHD	31.3%
Autism/Asperger’s	1.7%
Physical disability	3.6%
Long term illness (e.g. cancer, epilepsy)	10.7%
Two or more of the above	8.9%
Other condition not specified	7.1%

Note: Specific diagnoses were not available for 10 of the participants—this table represents percentages based on a sample of 112 students with ALN.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of student performance split according to each of the three independent variables.

Independent variable	Level	N	Mean (%)	SD
ALN Status	ALN	122	69.55	17.21
	No ALN	454	70.07	17.78
Extended deadlines	One or more	34	62.35	22.67
	None	542	70.12	16.85
Missed tests	One or more	115	62.19a	14.30
	None	461	76.76a	10.31

^aThis is a mean relative percentage—scores are calculated based on the number of questions attempted rather than the total number of questions set across the course.

Table 3. Descriptive statistics of student performance split according to each of the three independent variables.

Independent variable	Level	N	Mean (%)	SD
ALN	ALN	122	73.76	13.83
	No ALN	454	73.13	14.20
Extended deadlines	One or more	29	74.66	13.86
	None	547	73.19	14.14
Missed tests	One or more	40	69.26a	12.74
	None	536	75.39a	11.53

^aThis is a mean relative percentage—scores are calculated based on the number of questions attempted rather than the total number of questions set across the course.

Table 4. Crosstabulation of ALN and extension requirements in each course.

		ALN	No ALN
Research methods and statistics	Required 1 or more extensions	19	15
	Did not require extensions	103	439
Biological psychology	Required 1 or more extensions	13	16
	Did not require extensions	109	438

Table 5. Crosstabulation of ALN and incomplete tests in each course.

		ALN	No ALN
Research methods and statistics	Missed 1 or more tests	28	87
	Did not miss a test	94	367
Biological psychology	Missed 1 or more tests	9	31
	Did not miss a test	113	423