An Exploratory Analysis of Student Experiences with Peer Evaluation in Group Game Development Projects

Abstract

Collaborative projects are commonplace in computing education. They typically enable students to gain experience building software in teams, equipping them with the teamwork skills they need to be competitive in the labour market. However, students often need encouragement to reflect upon and synthesise their experience to attain the most learning. Peer evaluation offers one such approach, but the conditions which facilitate effective peer evaluation have not yet been established. This paper seeks to provide insight into student experiences with peer evaluation. It builds upon prior qualitative work, analysing quantitative data collected through a questionnaire taken by undergraduate students on a collaborate digital game development module. An exploratory factor analysis identifies seven dimensions of variance in the student experience: perceived impact; arbitrary influence; inconsistency; team cohesiveness; assessment pressure; ease and professionalism. Correlation analysis suggests some factors such as arbitrary influence, team cohesion, assessment pressure, and professionalism are associated with attained learning, whilst factors such as inconsistency and onerousness are not. This informs the development of a conceptual framework, suggesting focuses which facilitate effective peer evaluation. Expanding this conceptual framework and validating it across different demographics, contexts, and project types are suggested as avenues for further investigation.