Title: Investigating Thai lecturers' perceptions about factors undermined the reliability of summative assessment during COVID-19

Authors: Mohammed Yassin Mohd Aba Sha'ar; Phanit Singhasuwan; Chamaiporn Buddharat; Pimporn Markphan

Addresses: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, No. 1 Moo 4, Tha Ngio, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, 80280, Thailand ' The Language Centre, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, No. 80 Moo 9, Wongmanee Soi, Na Kian District, Muang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80000, Thailand ' The Language Centre, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, No. 1 Moo 4, Tha Ngio, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, 80280, Thailand ' The Language Centre, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, No. 5/265 Thasak, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Abstract: The study examines the impact of COVID-19 on the assessment process in the Thai context. It investigates the factors that undermined the reliability of online assessment during COVID-19. 196 lecturers voluntarily participated in questionnaires data collection, out of which 15 were conveniently selected for interviews. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were utilised for data analysis. The findings revealed that COVID-19 affected the assessment process and increased the digital divide among the students. It urged cancelling and/or replacing the assessments with assignments. The findings also show that the reliability of online assessment was undermined by three factors namely students' and lecturers' digital illiteracy, the possibility of cheating, and the inefficiency of online assessment tools to assess students' different skills and competencies. The findings give the lecturers insights into the threats and possibilities for improving online assessment, as technology is still under-developed in the field of online assessment.

Keywords: reliability; digital literacy; digital divide; COVID-19; assessment process; scaffolding; cheating; stress; anxiety; social distancing; online teaching; online assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2023.127630

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2023 Vol.14 No.1, pp.123 - 141

Received: 13 May 2021
Accepted: 06 Oct 2021

Published online: 13 Dec 2022 *

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