Additional module homework – Münster questionnaire for evaluation (MFE-ZHa)

Abstract

The Münster Questionnaire for Evaluation – Additional Module Homework (MFE-ZHa) is a concise item battery designed for the specific evaluation of homework assignments within university courses. This module functions as a supplementary component to the main Münster Questionnaire for Evaluation (MFE) system, which is utilized for broad Teaching Evaluation at the University of Münster. Comprising 5 items, the MFE-ZHa focuses on student perceptions regarding the scope, complexity, clarity, and effectiveness of homework in supporting content understanding.

Crucially, the MFE-ZHa was developed to meet the need for short, economical scales suitable for web-based administration, ensuring minimal temporal burden on students, particularly during peak examination periods. As of the latest documentation, this module is categorized as untested (unerprobt), meaning comprehensive psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity, are pending sufficient data collection following a revision phase conducted in Summer 2010.

Keywords

Teaching evaluation, homework assessment, MFE-ZHa, higher education, student feedback, Psychometrics, course evaluation module, German language.

Authors

Ina Grötemeier, Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Meinald Thielsch

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the MFE-ZHa is to provide teaching staff with specific, targeted feedback on the quality and efficacy of homework assignments administered during university courses (seminars and lectures). As an optional add-on module to the standard MFE evaluation instruments (MFE-Sr for seminars and MFE-Vr for lectures), it allows instructors to customize their evaluation process based on their unique didactic concepts.

The scale aims to capture student perspectives on key dimensions of homework utility, including whether assignments deepened understanding, if the workload was appropriate (not too extensive or overwhelming), and if sufficient follow-up discussion occurred. This specificity supports quality assurance efforts in higher education by pinpointing strengths and weaknesses related to a particular teaching method—the assignment of homework.

Construct

The overarching construct measured by the MFE-ZHa is Lehrevaluation (Teaching Evaluation), specifically focusing on the perceived quality and pedagogical effectiveness of homework assignments as a component of the overall course structure. It measures the students’ subjective experience of homework regarding workload management, conceptual clarity, cognitive load (overburdening), and instructional integration (follow-up discussion).

This module contributes to the broader MFE framework, which since 2003 has sought to provide flexible, economical evaluation tools for diverse teaching formats at the university level. The items tap into aspects of instructional design effectiveness related to independent study components, aligning with general principles of quality assurance in academic instruction.

Validity

Currently, specific empirical data regarding the validity of the MFE-ZHa item battery are not available (keine Angaben). The scale is documented as being in an untested status (unerprobt). The development process, however, was based on an initial analysis of characteristics of good teaching (Grabbe, 2003) and iterative refinement based on previous comprehensive questionnaires, suggesting a degree of face and content validity derived from expert consultation and existing research frameworks on teaching quality.

A major revision and item analysis occurred in Summer Semester 2010, which necessitated the reformulation of one item (Item 5). Results concerning the psychometric properties, including validity evidence for the revised version, are pending sufficient data collection from student samples. Therefore, the scale should be used cautiously until further evaluation is published.

Reliability

Specific empirical data regarding the internal consistency or test-retest reliability of the MFE-ZHa item battery are not available (keine Angaben). As the module is currently categorized as untested, comprehensive reliability analyses have not yet been reported following the item revision in 2010. The goal of the MFE system construction prioritized high economy and brevity, which is sometimes a trade-off against traditional measures of internal consistency, especially for scales containing only five items.

Factor Analysis

Information regarding the specific factor structure or factor analysis results for the MFE-ZHa item battery is not available. Given the battery consists of only five items, it is likely intended to function as a single index or a brief measure encompassing various facets related to homework quality rather than a multi-dimensional scale requiring complex factorial modeling. The scale was created through item selection and partitioning from a larger 29-item questionnaire framework (Grabbe, 2003), but detailed statistical results for this final 5-item module are pending.

Instrument

Test Type: Specific Item Battery / Teaching Evaluation Questionnaire Module

Format: Self-report questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: German (deutsch).

Population Group: University students (Studierende).

Age Group: Typically college/university age (18+).

Population Details: Students enrolled in courses (Seminars and Lectures) within the Department of Psychology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany. The instrument is administered online as part of the structured MFE evaluation system.

Test Methodology: Web-based administration via an online platform established in Winter Semester 2003/04. The MFE-ZHa is an optional supplementary module, typically administered immediately following the core evaluation modules (MFE-Sr/MFE-Vr) for the corresponding course. The response format includes seven graded options ranging from 1 = “stimme gar nicht zu” (strongly disagree) to 7 = “stimme vollkommen zu” (strongly agree), plus an additional categorical option for “nicht sinnvoll beantwortbar” (not sensible to answer).

Keywords

Münster Questionnaire for Evaluation, homework, student evaluation, online survey, teaching quality, higher education evaluation, psychometric development, German.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Meinald Thielsch)

Correspondence Address: Ina Grötemeier, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institut für Psychologie, Fliednerstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany. Primary contact: Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Meinald Thielsch, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Psychologisches Institut 1, Fliednerstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The instrument is part of the internal Lehrevaluation system of the Department of Psychology at the University of Münster. Information regarding specific user permissions or external licensing fees is not detailed in the source documentation. The MFE system began structured evaluation in 2000/01, and the MFE-ZHa module was introduced around 2003. The most recent item revision took place in Summer Semester 2010. The scale is currently documented as being in an untested status.

Reference’s

The development of the MFE system and its modules relies on established academic literature concerning teaching evaluation and online methodology:

• Bechler & Thielsch (2012). [Reference regarding the temporal constraints of evaluation].
• Göritz, Soucek & Bacher (2005). [Reference regarding online data collection advantages].
• Grabbe (2003). Analyse von Merkmalen guter Lehre.
• Haaser, Thielsch & Moeck (2007). [Reference regarding the web-based evaluation platform].
• Moeck & Thielsch (2004). [Reference regarding the creation of supplemental modules].
• Rindermann (1996). [Reference regarding the utility and objectives of evaluation].
• Schmidt und Loßnitzer (2010). [Overview of German teaching evaluation instruments].
• Thielsch & Weltzin (2012). [Reference regarding online survey benefits].

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Items of the additional module homework – Münster questionnaire for evaluation (MFE-ZHa)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The MFE-ZHa consists of 5 items assessing student perception of homework quality:

1. Die Hausaufgaben waren zu umfangreich.
2. Die Hausaufgaben haben mein Verständnis der Inhalte vertieft.
3. Die Aufgabenstellung der Hausaufgaben war verständlich.
4. Die Hausaufgaben haben mich überfordert.
5. Die Hausaufgaben wurden ausreichend nachbesprochen.