Mildly Interesting

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Researchers find lower grades given to students with surnames that come later in alphabetical order (phys.org)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/mildlyinteresting

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As graders go on grading, their comments become more frustrated and their good-will becomes much sloppier. At least that's the hypothesis to explain this. Researchers found the reverse effect on graders who sorted in reverse-alphabetical order.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

So, just the people who get marked last are randomly affected?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Not sure what you mean. Do you think that blind marking would somehow eradicate the bias onto these who get graded later?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No. Exactly the opposite. The problem continues to exist, but now it's hidden.

[–] whostosay 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It's improved at least, randomized would be different each time and would influence everyone's grades evenly in a spread out period (in theory.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Well, yeah. I'd argue that's better than people with certain names being consistently affected.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

They both seem equally bad to me.

You don't have to have either problem though; both can be avoided easily.