External Examination Invigilators’ (EEIs) Beliefs and Inference About Activities They Consider Important: Implication for Examination Policy

Abstract

The aim of this small-scale grounded approach qualitative study was to examine the beliefs of selected external examination invigilators (EEIs) and infer the kinds of activities they consider important. The importance of this study rested in the fact that there is a paucity of research which examines the role of EEIs at secondary, further and higher education levels. Therefore, it aids in filling a literary gap and gives them a ‘voice’ in the research literature. Study participants were five EEIs, working in a London secondary school. Purposeful convenience or opportunity sampling was used in their selection. Informal interviews and participant observation were the research methods used. The findings revealed the fact that beliefs of the EEIs guide how they rated their role and that maintaining examination intangibles and procedures is of high importance. Implication of the findings are discussed.

Keywords

• External Examination Invigilator
• Exam Invigilation
• Belief
• Role
• Proctor
• Secondary Schools