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TITLE:
The Influence of Computer-Print on Rater Scores

AUTHOR(S):
Michael Russell, Boston College

DOCUMENT TYPE: Article

ABSTRACT:
This study replicates and extends the work of Powers et al. (1994) by examining the influence computer-print and handwriting have on raters’ scores. This replication study employs an experimental design that presents the same set of responses to raters in four different formats. A second experiment is conducted to explore the extent to which the presentation effect can be reduced by supplemental training that focuses specifically on the causes of this presentation effect and includes practice scoring of responses presented in different formats. As Powers et al. found, the first experiment indicates that responses to composition test items presented in handwritten form receive significantly higher scores than the same responses presented in computerprint form. This effect is due to the visibility of errors and higher expectations for computer-printed responses coupled with increased identity with the writer generated by handwriting. Through supplemental training, the presentation effect was