A study designed to examine several student and instructor characteristics to see what relationship each had with student ratings of their instructors concentrated on such variables as (1) student sex, age, major, level of education, grade point average, or course grades previously received from the instructor in relation to student ratings of teachers, and (2) instructor sex, age, faculty rank, degree held, major area, or length of teaching experience with respect to ratings by students. A 2-page student scale provided for ratings of instructors on each of three 7-point continuums: (1) aloof, egocentric, restricted behavior versus friendly, understanding behavior, (2) evading, unplanned, slipshod behavior versus responsible, systematic, businesslike behavior, and (3) dull, routine behavior versus stimulating, imaginative, enthusiastic behavior. Student scales were administered to 4,402 students in classes taught by 87 different instructors. Simultaneously an instructor characteristics scale was administered in each of the classes. The study showed that student ratings are not influenced even by variables such as grades previously earned from the instructor being rated, that ratings were different among various departments within the School of Education, and that younger instructors received higher ratings than older instructors in each category. (DG)