Motlow State Community College
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Use of Assessment Results
Fall Semester 2008
Program Title: General Education, University Parallel Major
Course: SOC 2110 – Introduction to Sociology
This course identifies basic human relationships essential to surviving in modern society and seeks to
assist students in understanding and applying this knowledge in everyday life. Topics include
introduction to sociology, culture, inequality and social class, political and economic orders, and the
changing society.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will understand the various perspectives in sociological analysis.
2. Students will recognize and identify the major theorists in sociology and their contributions.
3. Students will label and define personal and cultural influences on judgment and opinion
formation.
4. Students will describe the ways social forces shape personal identity.
5. Students will comprehend the integrative forces shaping sociological dynamics.
6. Students will analyze and describe the factors contributing to social stability and predictability.
7. Students will know and understand the social pressures toward conformity and resistance in the
form of civil disobedience.
8. Students will analyze the impact of race and ethnicity in social adjustment.
9. Students will analyze the impact of gender on society and personal social adjustment.
10. Students will be able to describe how social changes impact the social institutions of marriage
and family life.
11. Students will analyze the impact of education in social systems.
12. Students will comprehend the influence of religion in society.
Performance Measure(s): Pre-Test/Post-Test
Effectiveness Standard: At least 70% of the students will answer the questions that pertain to the
student learning outcome correctly.
Assessment Results:
Pre-Test Results:
Expected Student Learning Outcomes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Question Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Percent Correct
86.55
45.09
32.73
75.45
58.36
54.45
32.64
8
9
10
11
12
8
9
10
11
12
46.18
33.45
22.27
72.64
25.45
Pre-Test Grand Mean Percent Correct = 48.77
Post-Test Results:
Expected Student Learning Outcomes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Question
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Percent Correct
94.2
89.9
79.2
88.9
71.8
39.0
89.8
78.3
65.7
40.7
73.5
35.7
Post-Test Grand Mean
Percent Correct = 70.55
Percent Incremental
Change
+8.84
+99.38
+141.98
+17.83
+23.03
-28.37
+175.12
+69.55
+96.41
+82.75
+1.18
+40.28
Grand Mean Percent
Incremental Change =
60.67
Use of Assessment Results:
In fall 2008, 284 students in 11 sections of SOC 2110 across four campuses were tested. While gains
across the board in pre-post test scores, the results indicate that attainment of expected student
learning outcomes 6, 9, 10, and 12 were not fully realized (though attainment of 9 was very close to the
benchmark). The reasons for this are not clear; the variability in student mix and instructor approach
may be factors.
The post-test grand mean percent correct of 70.55 achieved the benchmark of 70% and is 44.66% higher
than the pre-test grand mean. The grand mean percent incremental change of 60.67% reflects a
substantial improvement in post-test scores over pre-test scores and is empirical evidence of student
learning.
Regular and adjunct sociology faculty will be informed of these results and encouraged to reinforce
instruction in the areas identified above. Pedagogical interventions could include additional class time,
special student assignments, additional programmatic instruction or other appropriate strategies.