Character Assessment via Qualitative Research Methods

Universities are becoming increasingly interested in implementing character education as a part of their curricula, although this implementation encounters obstacles at different levels. This article focuses particularly on the complications regarding the formal assessment of character building at Tilburg University. It proposes that qualitative research methods can serve as an inspirational source for designing assessment types, as
these methods foreground participant agency and generate in-depth understanding. More particularly, this article reports on the findings of a pilot study at our Dutch university, where three such types of assessment were tested, based on a journal study, a series of focus group interviews, and a content analysis study. Based on these findings, the article provides reflections on the advantages and limitations of these assessment types.