This study investigates how the increased use of part‐time and nontenure‐track instructors may result in grade inflation.
This research uses ten years of registrar data at a Midwest State (USA) institution to perform a multiple regression grade analysis.
Evidence is found that part‐time and nontenure‐track instructors give higher grades even after accounting for many alternative explanations for grade differences.
The source for the data used for the study is one public institution. Additional studies from a wider range of institution types would be necessary before more definite conclusions can be drawn.
This paper extends the work performed by a number of other authors by analyzing a significantly longer‐time period and by using data not specific to a particular discipline. In addition, this study expands upon past studies by including full‐time nontenure‐track faculty whose numbers are increasing rapidly in higher education. A multiple regression analysis is also used that provides for more robust results and controls for many alternative explanations of grade differences.
