Benue State University, Makurdi

META-ANALYSIS ON KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT METHODS

Joshua Chiroma Gandi, John Gospel Gana, Joseph Longshak Kosen, James Ali Ugbo, Mundi Patrick Supji, Peace Satzen Azi, and Bisan Musa

Abstract

Knowledge assessment could be a derivative of measurement theories involving metric, normative, and descriptive components. Despite soft criticisms that it only increases the precision of quantitative estimates and not a hypothesis-testing activity, meta-analysis was adopted to evaluateits assessment methodsbased on inherent empirical advantages of knowledge space theory and psychometrics. This is because even small effect(s) which do not meet criterion for arbitrary significance that may limit the remits of primary studies also have significant empirical advantage in meta-analysis. Hence,relevant candidate datawere generated from suitable studies via Google search, ScienceOpen, SciSearch, PubMed/Medline, PsycInfo, PsycARTICLES, PsycTests, and PsycEXTRA. The key pre-defined items include protocol development, information search, study eligibility, relevant studies strategy delineation, creating data collection forms, data extraction process,risk of bias assessment, individual results standardization, and overall effect(s) calculation. Initially, 439 candidate studies were identified and subjected to rigorous inclusion-exclusion processes after which only the adequately eligible 41 studies were retained for final inclusion. The result shows consistency in corroborating that knowledge structure is a domain-specific as well as a deterministic knowledge organization. It supported and further advocates for both direct and indirect assessment approaches adjudged as psychometrically appropriate. There is need for more empirical studies to further determine more superior knowledge assessment method(s) or proffer helpful way of integrating the existing ones towards maximizing impact and result.

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