Design and implementation of a prototype database for the analysis of Student Opinion Forms for the Administrative Sciences Department

Abstract

The Naval Postgraduate School currently collects and disseminates the data from Student Opinion Forms (SOF) on a quarterly basis. After all required SOF reports are routed to the academic departments and the instructors, the data is archived on magnetic tape. Until recently, there was no method of retrieving this data for use in classroom environment research or for instructor evaluation purposes. This thesis develops a prototype database for the analysis of Student Opinion Forms (SOFA) for the Administrative Sciences Department using FOCUS database management system. It will be used to retrieve SOF data and to produce reports and graphics which will assist the chairman, his representatives, and department researchers in examining the historical data relating to courses, curricula or instructors. SOFA will greatly assist department personnel in making reasonable inferences regarding instructor performance, classroom environment, student curriculum and other factors which may be affecting the learning environment.