Final answer:
Criterion-referenced grading is the method where students are graded based on a set standard or criteria, irrespective of their peers' performance. This approach contrasts with norm-referenced grading and has become more relevant in discussions related to grade inflation, where grades have tended to rise over time for the same level of work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of grading where students receive a certain grade for a certain level of performance, regardless of any comparison with the work of other students, is known as criterion-referenced grading. This method evaluates student work against a set standard or criteria, rather than comparing student performance against a normative sample, which is done in norm-referenced grading. Grade inflation has been a growing concern where a shift in grading practices over time, often unconsciously, leads to higher grades being awarded for work that would have previously received lower grades. For instance, what was considered average and would warrant a C grade now often results in a B or even an A.
Given a hypothetical situation where a teacher adopts a more collective approach to grading by assigning all students a C grade due to the class mean being 75%, demonstrates a departure from traditional norm-referenced grading towards a more egalitarian approach, although it may not be reflective of individual student performance. This reflects a broader discussion on the philosophy and ethics in the education system, echoing principles found in socioeconomic ideologies such as capitalism and communism.