Analysis of data from 741 college classes in which there were at least 10 male and 10 female students revealed small gender preferences in student evaluations of teachers, particularly in female students rating female teachers. Teaching style rather than gender may explain these preferences. (Author/DB)

A survey of students at Western Illinois University and Appalachian State University shows that they consider themselves fair and accurate but do not understand the use and effects of the ratings and believe that neither faculty nor administrators pay much attention to the results. (Author/MLW)

Three criteria for an interpretable validity study linking ratings to learning are discussed: section means, ability controls, and criterion adequacy. Validity coefficients predict 5-8 percent of criterion variance and may be moderated by situational factors and student characteristics. (Author/MLW)

To examine factors that might bias student ratings of instruction, a study investigated sex bias by determining whether male or female students give higher ratings to the same male or female instructors. Data suggest that biasing sex interactions do not typically occur but may occur in particular situations. (Editor/JT)

Formative and summative uses of students' ratings place conflicting demands on the composition of a rating form, but these conflicts are minimized when faculty partially control the content of evaluation. Under those criteria, the purposes served by students' ratings complement each other. Diagnostic use of ratings to improve instruction is…

A study is discussed that found that direct quotations from students ratings of teachers were more persuasive than statistical summaries of the ratings in evaluations of teaching ability for promotion decisions. (Author/MLW)

A 1929 University of Washington initiative to have students evaluate their classes and instructors is described in detail and analyzed, looking at the construction of the survey, criteria used to assess instruction, use made of the survey's results, and assessment of improvements found in the next semester. (Originally published in 1932) (MSE)

Final exam performances of seven sections of introductory calculus were compared with student ratings of the instructors, half made during the last week of classes, half during the subsequent term. Ratings made at the two different times were not reliably different and both sets correlated positively with final exam performance. (Editor/JT)

A questionnaire was developed to obtain student perceptions of the quality of departmental academic programs to aid in an overall departmental program evaluation. Student majors in 48 academic departments were surveyed. Descriptions of questionnaire development, reporting procedures, statistical properties, and data on questionnaire utility are…

The use of student classroom rating data to assist with salary, tenure, and/or promotion decisions is explored. The data can become an important aspect of such decisions, but only after very careful development and negotiation. (JMF)

A study had 912 undergraduate and graduate students rate previous instructors using high-inference items shown to be strong correlates of teaching effectiveness. Resulting data were analyzed to see if multiple definitions of teacher effectiveness emerged. Analysis produced a model of teacher effectiveness with a high degree of predictive power…

In order to study the effect of student ratings of teaching effectiveness upon personnel decisions, six promotions documents were created varying in research productivity, teaching excellence, and whether a report of student ratings was included. Research and teaching ability both affected the judgments; student ratings had relatively small…

Issues related to the construction of instruments for course and instructor evaluation by students are reviewed, and the construction process is examined in terms of domain specification, scaling, item generation, and statistical analysis. A set of guidelines applicable to this process is derived from research and current practices. (Author/JMD)

A study of the validity of student ratings of college faculty focused on the relationship of student outcomes to faculty ratings. Subjects were students of 36 full-time instructors; outcome measures included subject matter knowledge, student self-ratings, and measures of short- and long-term motivation (interest in the subject matter). Results…

A study examined the relationship between student evaluations of teaching effectiveness, age of faculty, and timing of retirement among tenured faculty. Results suggest a significant but small impact of age, varying by discipline. Uncapping of mandatory retirement appears to raise no major concerns for dramatic deterioration in teaching…