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Pros and Cons of Using a Plus-Minus Grading System

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Pros and Cons of Using a Plus-Minus Grading System
Student and Faculty Views of Plus-Minus Grading Systems
Working Paper Series—07-11 | December 2007

Jim Morgan
(928) 523-7385 James.morgan@nau.edu

Gary Tallman Robert Williams

All professors at:

Northern Arizona University The W. A. Franke College of Business
PO Box 15066 Flagstaff, AZ 86011.5066

Student and Faculty Views of Plus-Minus Grading Systems
Introduction Many colleges and universities have adopted or are considering adopting a grading system that provides a larger number of marking choices than the A through F whole-letter system. This usually takes the form of a plus-minus (+/-) grading system in one version or another. While a variety of reasons have been put forth for the move to +/- grades, a key motivation is the belief that a +/- grading system can either reverse the progression of grade inflation or counter its effects by establishing more grade choices so that performance can be more effectively differentiated. This paper first reviews studies of the prevalence in American colleges and universities of +/- grading systems and, perhaps more importantly, the prevalence of schools not using +/- systems who could potentially benefit from a shift to use of this form of grading system. Because of limitations found in available data, a targeted analysis of grading systems of a selected set of universities has been conducted. The results of this secondary research are briefly reported in the second section below. Results of the first two sections indicate that there remains a substantial set of schools that do not currently utilize +/- grading and might be considering a shift to this form of grading system. Next the paper reviews literature dealing with faculty and student perceptions of +/- grading systems and the effects of these systems on the level and distribution of grades and on student effort. Substantial differences in the perceptions of the two groups are found. The major focus of this paper is the analysis of how faculty and


References: Atkinson, J. W. (1957) Motivational Determinants of Risk Taking Behavior. Psychological Review, Vol. 64, pp 359-372. Bressette, R. “Arguments for Plus/Minus Grading: A Case Study,” Educational Research Quarterly, 25(No.3, 2002), 29-41. Brumfield, C. (2005) Current Trends in Grades and Grading Practices in Higher Education, AACRAO, Washington, DC,120 pages. Burns, J., “The Problem of Change,” Industrial Management, March, 1966, p. 1. Brown Daily Herald, Staff Editorial, “An N/C for plus/minus,” (2006, March 15). Cullen, F. T. et al. “The Effects of the Use of Grades as an Incentive,” The Journal of Education Research, 68(No. 7, 1975), 277-9. Daily Atheneaum, Staff Editorial, “Plus-Minus system has Pros/Cons,” (2006, April 10). Dixon, Chip. “Plus/minus grading: If given a choice,” College Student Journal, 38 (June 2004), 280-5. Ekstrom, R., Villegas, A.M. “College Grades: An Exploratory Study of Policies and Practices,” College Entrance Examination Board, New York. (No. 94-1, 1994), 1-39. Goltz S. and A. Hietapelto, “ Using the Operant and Strategic Contingencies Models of Power to Understand Resistance to Change,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, Vol. 22(3), 2002, pp. 3-22. Levine, A. “To Deflate Grade Inflation: Simplify System,” Chronicle of Higher Education, 40(1994, Jan. 19), B3. Malone, B., Nelson, J. S., Nelson C. V. “A Study of the Effect of the Implementation of the Plus/Minus Grading System on Graduate Student Grades,” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, October 25-28, 2000). McClure J., Spector L. “Plus/minus grading and motivation: an empirical study of student choice and performance,” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, Vol. 30(No. 6, 2005), 571-9. McKendall, M., Bhagwat, Y., Giedeman, D., Klien, H. & Lavenburg, N. “Identifying the Gap Between Student and Faculty Expectations: Report from a Business School,” Journal of the Academy of Business Education, 7(Spring, 2006), 44-51. Quann, C. J. “Plus-Minus Grading: A Cass Study and National Implications,” Washington, D. C.: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (1987), 1-17. Riley,H. J., Checca, R.C., Singer, T. S., & Worthington, D. F. “Current Trends in Grades and Grading Practices in Undergraduate Higher Education,” The results of the 1992 AACRAO Survey, New York, (1994), 1-76. Rotter, J. B. (1954), Social Learning and Clinical Psychology, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Singleton, R. Jr. & Smith, E. R. “Does Grade Inflation Decrease the Reliability of Grades?”, Journal of Educational Measurement, 15 (No. 1, 1978). pp. 37-40. Storelli-Castro, L. “How the Plus-Minus System Stole Christmas,” Rocky Mountain Collegian, (2006, March 8). Tolman, E. C. (1932), Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men, New York: Appleton-Century-Croft. Vroom, V. C. (1964), Work and Motivation, New York: John Wiley and Sons. 13
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