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ASSESSRA--A Case-Based Approach for the Assessment of Students' Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation Skills

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Title: ASSESSRA--A Case-Based Approach for the Assessment of Students' Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation Skills
Language: English
Authors: Anna Horrer (ORCID 0000-0003-1029-5896), Laura Brandl (ORCID 0000-0001-7974-7892), Insa Reichow (ORCID 0000-0002-7799-8409), Michael Sailer, Maximilian Sailer (ORCID 0000-0003-2241-7694), Matthias Stadler (ORCID 0000-0001-8241-8723), Moritz Heene (ORCID 0009-0007-4956-2417), Tamara van Gog (ORCID 0000-0003-3766-6255), Frank Fischer (ORCID 0000-0003-0253-659X), Martin R. Fischer (ORCID 0000-0002-5299-5025), Jan M. Zottmann (ORCID 0000-0002-3887-1181)
Source: Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. 2026 44(1):3-19.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Science Process Skills, Persuasive Discourse, Case Method (Teaching Technique), Decision Making, Higher Education, Cognitive Tests, Psychometrics, Evaluative Thinking, Student Evaluation, College Students, Logical Thinking, Foreign Countries, Science Tests
Geographic Terms: Germany
DOI: 10.1177/07342829251364579
ISSN: 0734-2829
1557-5144
Abstract: Scientific reasoning and argumentation (SRA) skills are crucial in higher education, yet comparing studies on these skills remains challenging due to the scarcity of well-developed SRA-tests with robust psychometric properties. In this paper, the case-based ASSESSRA approach is proposed to evaluate university students' SRA-skills, focusing specifically on the skills "evidence evaluation" and "drawing conclusions." A prototype constructed using this approach in an educational context demonstrated reliability within an expert panel (n = 9; ICC = 0.81). In a subsequent study, the validity of the ASSESSRA approach was examined with 207 students, a partial-credit-model exhibited an acceptable fit, demonstrating no significant outfit and excellent distribution of ability parameters and Thurstonian thresholds. The ASSESSRA-prototype, coupled with provided guidelines, offers a versatile framework for developing comparable SRA-tests across diverse domains. This approach not only addresses the current gap in SRA assessment instruments but also holds promise for enhancing the understanding and promotion of SRA-skills in higher education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495873
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: ASSESSRA--A Case-Based Approach for the Assessment of Students' Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation Skills
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anna+Horrer%22">Anna Horrer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1029-5896">0000-0003-1029-5896</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+Brandl%22">Laura Brandl</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7974-7892">0000-0001-7974-7892</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Insa+Reichow%22">Insa Reichow</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-8409">0000-0002-7799-8409</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michael+Sailer%22">Michael Sailer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maximilian+Sailer%22">Maximilian Sailer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2241-7694">0000-0003-2241-7694</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthias+Stadler%22">Matthias Stadler</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8241-8723">0000-0001-8241-8723</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moritz+Heene%22">Moritz Heene</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4956-2417">0009-0007-4956-2417</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tamara+van+Gog%22">Tamara van Gog</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3766-6255">0000-0003-3766-6255</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Frank+Fischer%22">Frank Fischer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-659X">0000-0003-0253-659X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin+R%2E+Fischer%22">Martin R. Fischer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5299-5025">0000-0002-5299-5025</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jan+M%2E+Zottmann%22">Jan M. Zottmann</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3887-1181">0000-0002-3887-1181</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Psychoeducational+Assessment%22"><i>Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment</i></searchLink>. 2026 44(1):3-19.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 17
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Process+Skills%22">Science Process Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Persuasive+Discourse%22">Persuasive Discourse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Method+%28Teaching+Technique%29%22">Case Method (Teaching Technique)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Tests%22">Cognitive Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychometrics%22">Psychometrics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluative+Thinking%22">Evaluative Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Evaluation%22">Student Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Logical+Thinking%22">Logical Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Tests%22">Science Tests</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germany%22">Germany</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/07342829251364579
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0734-2829<br />1557-5144
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Scientific reasoning and argumentation (SRA) skills are crucial in higher education, yet comparing studies on these skills remains challenging due to the scarcity of well-developed SRA-tests with robust psychometric properties. In this paper, the case-based ASSESSRA approach is proposed to evaluate university students' SRA-skills, focusing specifically on the skills "evidence evaluation" and "drawing conclusions." A prototype constructed using this approach in an educational context demonstrated reliability within an expert panel (n = 9; ICC = 0.81). In a subsequent study, the validity of the ASSESSRA approach was examined with 207 students, a partial-credit-model exhibited an acceptable fit, demonstrating no significant outfit and excellent distribution of ability parameters and Thurstonian thresholds. The ASSESSRA-prototype, coupled with provided guidelines, offers a versatile framework for developing comparable SRA-tests across diverse domains. This approach not only addresses the current gap in SRA assessment instruments but also holds promise for enhancing the understanding and promotion of SRA-skills in higher education.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495873
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1495873
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        Value: 10.1177/07342829251364579
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
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      – SubjectFull: Science Process Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Persuasive Discourse
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      – SubjectFull: Case Method (Teaching Technique)
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      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: College Students
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      – SubjectFull: Germany
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