Qualimetric Assessment of Students’ Research Competence within the Context of Education Informatization

Aims: Is building a model for assessing students’ research competence.

Study Design: Experimental testing of the assessment model for students’ research competence.

Place and Duration of Study: Students (n=648, 2009, 2010 и 2011 enrolment years) at technical university – Kuban State Technological University.

Methodology: Used methods: Systemic approach, qualimetric approach, competence approach (targets students at effective use of the obtained knowledge and skills, to settle successfully living, social and professional tasks), metasystemic approach ( a portfolio is viewed as apically implicit system comprising relatively autonomous components), synergetic approach (development of students’ research competence is viewed in integral relation with their professional self-organization and self-development) and student-centered approach (a learner’s priority is manifested in educational process).

Results: Decision rules (AI term) for integrated assessment of research competence are as follows:

1. If cognitive, operational, motivational and behavior components are registered high, and reflexive component is medium and up, in this case, the level is marked as creative.
2. If at least one component (except reflexive) is registered very low, the level is marked as immature.
3. If motivational component is registered low, and cognitive, operational or behavior ones are in between low and medium, the level is marked as situational.
4. If all components are registered medium (reflexive can go low), the level of competence is marked as literate.
5. If two or three components are registered high, the rest are medium and up, the level is marked as scholarly.

Conclusion: The suggested criteria and levels represent an integral component of criteria and assessment framework for psychological and pedagogical monitoring (monitoring of personal and professional development of students) and a basis for forecasting personal and professional growth of students. With informatization of professional education it is possible to assess students’ research competence on the basis of keeping a portfolio.