Examining Grade Inflation and Considerations for Radiologic Sciences: A Literature Review

Abstract

Grade inflation is defined as an increase in the number of “A” grades being awarded to students. This may lead to students who have the grade but not necessarily the skill to prove that they have mastered the content. Causes such as consumerism, faculty job retention, conflict avoidance, increases in faculty workload, and lack of clear grading standards have led some to question the importance of grades. Ramifications of grade inflation include degrees that may become meaningless, students who may be unable to perform in the workplace and, in the cases of medical professionals, patients who may be put in potentially life-threatening situations. Suggestions for mitigating this trend are increasing faculty training, creating objective student assessments, and evaluating students on their overall character. Because no studies in radiologic sciences currently exist, examining grade inflation in this field is critical. Faculty and student perceptions of grade inflation in radiologic sciences should also be examined to discover if this phenomenon exists. If grade inflation is discovered to be a problem, radiologic science educators should follow the recommendations presented in this review to mitigate this trend.