Proposal for a blindfold test of accredited vs. unaccredited dissertations

Hmmm, perhaps it was just wishful thinking on my part.
Jack

 

Now Jack, as supporters of academic fraud generally go, Morgan is top of the list for the best guy to have around.

Morgan, before you start saying that you don't defend academic fraud (which you do but perhaps only indirectly) give me the name of one habitually unaccredited distance learning school that you think has great academic integrity. If you can't then it would seem to me that you must admit that you do support academic fraud (but perhaps only indirectly).

 

Newbies:

"Esquires" have honor? (where da pruf?)

Morgan is an "Esquire?" (where da double pruf?)

Morgan possesses "honor?" (where da triple double pruf? woof, woof!)

LOL ........... learn something new every day.

Thanks.

 

"However, I wonder about the purpose of the proposed study."

Morgan, why do I sense that Dr. Bear's proposal "to randomly select and analyze the quality of RA-dissertations vs. quality of unaccredited dissertations" makes you (a self-proclaimed champion or advocate for non-accreditation and non-accredited entities) vervous and extremely uncomfortable?

Why are you not chomping at the bit to show everyone and all RA or legitimately accredited institutions that your unaccredited entities can and do fare better, at least as far as the quality of doctoral dissertations are concerened?

Do you have anything to fear from the outcome? If so, please elaborate on why this might (or might not) be so.

"What I do see as a tremendous potential outcome is the possibility of “raising the bar” and the “expectations” among non-RA institutions and their students."

Why do you need a study such as the one proposed here by the assiduous Dr. Bear "to raise the bar and expectations among non-RA institutioins and their students?" Why can't the non-RA's do it (raise bar/expectatiions) on their own? Fact is, they can't or they won't or both - and you know it. If I am wrong, please state why.

"I personally would welcome a competition, and it would be just the thing to push me to enter a non-RA program to compete."

Morgan, why would you have "to enter a non-RA program to compete?" Why not enter an RA or other legitimately accredited program to compete? Are you implying that you can only compete with non-RA students in a non-RA institution? Are you irreversibly averse (or allergic) to RA institutions? If so, I wonder why .....

As is often the case, your post raises far more questions than it answers.

Please clarify.

Thanks.

 

Pot Calls the Kettle

Hey Morg, you're a newbie.

 

Unfortunately, I can't. However, if any UA school will pay for me to do a study, and publish it here at degreeinfo, I would be more than happy to. Would you all like to join me? Let's put a team together - from the various positions - and fire off a letter to KWU, PWU, etc. Through our various positions we might be able to argue that we are, as a team, somewhat unbiased. We would have to first determine standards, criteria, etc (something I haven't run across here - just lots of dissing and hissing).

BTW: Thanks for the earlier vote of confidence.

 

Despite all the fun we've been having here, giving each other a hard time, let's not lose sight of Dr. Bear's proposal.

As I see it, there are currently three suggestions on the table in this thread:

(1) An independent study, comparing the dissertations of two schools (RA and UA/non-RA);
(2) An open competition, awarding the "best" doctoral work; and
(3) An independent evaluation of an UA school.

[Jake_A: none of the above gives me even the slightest angst.]

 

If I understand Mr. Khanstein correctly, he is proposing that the degreeinfo.com participants could conduct an independent evaluation of the academic integrity of an unaccredited school, and that the study could be funded by the school in question. In fact, it rather sounds like Mr. Khanstein proposes to offer accreditation services.

The obvious problem is that unaccredited schools -- by definition -- do not welcome independent evaluations of their academic integrity.

If a school is not prepared to undergo evaluation from regional or national accreditation agencies, then they probably won't want to fund an evaluation by the distinguished members of degreeinfo.com either.

 

OK, how about if you write a draft of this letter, publish it here and then we (any/all members) can make suggestions as to the modification of the original proposal? Go ahead Morgie, do it up!
Jack