The negative confounding effect of assessment frequency suggests that high frequencies of assessment, as it presumably applies to both math and science subjects, contribute positively to math-science coherence.
The variable of interest for the models that addressed research question 4 was assessment condition at level 2. We also included predictor variables at level 3 for each of the three courses because performance varied across the course populations, and it allowed us to make comparisons of the effect of assessment condition across the multiple courses for both the pretest and posttest.
The therapeutic effect of assessment on alcohol consumption in trials has been well documented [21] and even minimal assessment, such as completing the 10 item AUDIT has been shown to have an effect size of 0.23 (95% CI 0.01 0.45) at 2 3 months follow-up [22].
It is necessary to minimise the effect of assessment of the portfolio on students' learning.
The analyses of treatment versus test retest effects for the ER EAST-scores showed no significant main effect of Assessment [ F 1, 49) = 2.4, p > 0.05, partial η = 0.05].
In terms of state anxiety, again there was a main effect of assessment point, suggesting an overall decrease in state anxiety, F 1, 57) = 23.38, p < .001, η = 0.29.
This is supported by a body of evidence indicating the powerful effect of assessment on strengthening memorisation and recall [ 20, 22, 23].
In terms of positive and negative affect, there was no main effect of assessment point on positive affect, F 1, 55) = 1.61, p = .21, η = 0.03, but a main effect of assessment point on negative affect (suggesting an overall reduction in negative affect), F 1, 56) = 46.18, p = .001, η = 0.45.
The model shows that learning begins by anticipating the PA context as well as the PA content (pre-performance triggers), described as the 'backwash effect' of assessment [ 37] or the 'feed forward function' of assessment [ 38].
Comparing fear of negative evaluation from pre-training to follow-up there was a significant main effect of assessment point, F 1, 57) = 25.33, p < .001, η = 0.31, suggesting an overall decrease in social evaluative fear.
