Stephanie D. H. Evergreen
Graduate Center for
Research and Retention
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Doctoral Dissertation Announcement
Candidate: Stephanie D. H. Evergreen
Degree of:
Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation
Title: The Role of Visual Processing Theory in Written Evaluation Communication
Committee:
Dr. Chris L. S. Coryn, Chair
Dr. Nancy B. Mansberger
Dr. Mary E. Piontek
Date: Monday, October 10, 2011 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
4410 Ellsworth
Hall
Abstract:
Evaluation reporting is an educational act and, as such, should be communicated using theories that support cognition. This study drew upon visual processing theory and theory-based graphic design principles to develop the Evaluation Report Layout Checklist intended to guide report development and support cognition in the readers of evaluation reports. It was then reviewed by an expert panel and applied by a group of raters to a set of evaluation reports obtained from the Informal Science Education evaluation website with maximum variability sampling. Results showed fairly high exact percent agreement and strong to very strong correlation with the author’s ratings. Ratings revealed a low level of theory-based report formatting in use of graphs and some aspects of type, alignment, and color among evaluation reports in the sample.