Some statistics on the course Grade distribution for i99-W06 (20 sections) BA250/3300

A
209
25%
B
246
30%
C
168
20%
D
42
5%
F
53
6%
EXC (includes Y)
109
13%
   
 
Total
827
100%
C or better
623 
75%

W02 semester revealed some qualitative differences between sections

 
both sections
 combined %
8 am
8 am %
9:30 am
9:30 am %
A
15
18%
3
7%
12
28%
B
15
18%
5
12%
10
23%
C
20
24%
13
32%
7
16%
D
15
18%
8
20%
7
16%
F
11
13%
8
20%
3
7%
EXC
8
10%
4
10%
4
9%
Y=3
    
y=3
      
total
84
  
41
  
43
  
C and above
  
60%
  
51%
  
67%

There were notable qualitative differences in:

  • attendance,
  • assignments completed on time,
  • late assignments often poorly completed,
  • copying others' work.

    • Detectable/prosecutable cheating in the 8 am section was about 3 times the frequency found in the 9:30 section (about 15% of students vs. about 5%, which is typical). Several cheaters were multiple offenders, leading to the conclusion that an "F in the assignment" is not adequate deterrent. Although not systematically examined, it could be conjectured that the atypical concentration of poor students in the 8 am section might have been related to the fact that it was the only section open for late registrants, some of whom had just been notified of a poor grade for the course in the previous semester.
    The probability of these differences ingrade distribution occurring by chance (sampling) is slightly less than 5% as determined by a Chi-Square test.
    last modified August 24, 2006
    comments or questions to rbanis@jinx.umsl.edu
     
     

    Return to Bud Banis' homepage at UM St Louis