How is Peer Assessment Factor (PAF) calculated?

This article will explain the calculations of the Peer Assessment Factor (PAF)

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In Team-Based Learning (TBL), the Peer Assessment Factor (PAF) plays a crucial role in peer evaluations by adjusting individual grades according to the contributions of each team member. It serves as a reflection of the effort each participant has dedicated to the group project, as assessed by their peers. Typically, the PAF is calculated by aggregating scores assigned by team members, allowing for an upward or downward adjustment of an individual's grade based on these peer assessments.

General Formula Breakdown for Calculating PAF

1. Individual Peer Scores:

Each team member rates their peers on various performance criteria (e.g., participation, contribution, communication). These scores are collected for all team members.

Let:

S be the sum of the points a member receives from their peers.
N be the total number of members in the team.

2. Average Peer Score per Member:

The average score a member receives is calculated by dividing their total score by the number of teammates (excluding themselves).

3. Total Score Available:

Each team member has a total number of points they can allocate to their peers. This is often equal to the maximum score that can be assigned times the number of team members.

Let:

M be the maximum possible points one team member can give to another (e.g., 10).
The total score available for each team member is (M \times (N - 1)).

4. Expected Peer Score:

Each member’s expected score is typically based on equal contribution. If all members are rated equally, the expected peer score for each member is calculated as:

5. Peer Assessment Factor (PAF):

The PAF is calculated by comparing the average peer score a member receives to their expected peer score. If a member receives more points than expected, their PAF will be greater than 1, which will boost their grade. If they receive fewer points, the PAF will be less than 1, and their grade will be reduced.

6. Adjustment of Final Grade:

The PAF is used to adjust an individual’s score based on their team’s overall performance. The individual’s final score (e.g., on a group assignment) can be adjusted by multiplying the team grade by their PAF.

PAF-Adjustment of Final Grade

Example Calculation

Suppose a team of 5 members (N = 5), with each member rating others on a scale of 0–10 (M = 10), and each team member is expected to give out a total of 40 points (i.e., 4 members to rate × 10 points). If a team member receives 36 points from their peers:

If the team grade is 85, the member’s final grade would be:

PAF-final grade This member’s final grade would be adjusted upwards due to a high PAF.

Key Points:

PAF > 1: The member contributed more than average.
PAF = 1: The member contributed an average amount.
PAF < 1: The member contributed less than average.

The exact calculation of PAF might vary slightly based on the institution's or instructor’s specific guidelines for peer assessment in TBL.