The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between computer technology's role and students' perceptions about course effectiveness. Students from two universities (one Canadian, n = 1465; one American, n = 831) completed a 71-item questionnaire addressing different aspects of their learning experience in a given course. Factor…

Undergraduate students participated in a study to measure the effect of variables influencing teacher rating. Overall, students rated their instructors more positively when they believed evaluation was sponsored by the faculty rather than a student group. (Author/DEP)

Critically examines five issues surrounding the use of student evaluations of teaching for summative decisions: current practices, validity concerns, improving the reporting of results, improving the decision-making process, and incorporating validity estimates into the decision-making process. Concludes with a list of recommendations for…

Preceding articles in this issue, "Improving Judgments about Teaching Effectiveness Using Teacher Rating Forms" (Abrami) and "Can We Put Precision into Practices? Commentary and Thoughts Engendered by Abrami's 'Improving Judgments about Teacher Effectiveness Using Teacher Rating Forms,'" offered: (1) Abrami's proposals to…

A common criticism of student ratings of instruction is that they are affected by the personal style of the instructor rather than an instructor's ability to convey instructional material. It was found that instructor expressiveness had a substanial impact on student ratings but a small impact on student achievement. (Author/PN)

Contrary to previous research, grading standards did not affect student achievement. The effect of standards on ratings was significant but not consistent for types of ratings (instructor expressiveness, lecture content), instructors, or differences in standards. Under certain conditions, higher grades either adversely affected ratings or had no…

This catalogue briefly describes the following 12 systems for student ratings of instruction in higher education: (1) Purdue Cafeteria System (Cafeteria); (2) Course Faculty Instrument (CFI); (3) Arizona Course/Instructor Evaluation Questionnaire (CIEQ); (4) Endeavor Instructional Rating System (Endeavor); (5) University of Washington…

Student ratings of instruction measure general instructional skill, give a composite of delivering instruction, facilitate interactions, and evaluate student learning. A meta-analysis of the multisection validity studies indicates student ratings are moderately valid, but affected by administrative, instructor, and course characteristics. (MMU)

Six quantitative reviews of the research on student ratings of instructional effectiveness are examined. The disparate conclusions of the reviews are explained by comparing the syntheses at each of five steps in a meta-analysis: specifying inclusion criteria; locating studies; coding study features; calculating study outcomes; and data analysis.…

The relationship between student/teacher attitude similarity and teacher rating form (TRF) scores is examined. Students (N=345) completed a 24-item attitude scale, once for themselves and once for their instructors, and a 28-item TRF. Attitude similarity is of minimum importance when evaluations are used to make gross distinctions among…

Two divergent views are contrasted: the multidimensional and the unidimensional views of faculty evaluation. The views of H. W. Marsh, the most outspoken advocate of the multidimensional view of evaluation based on factor scores, is summarized and a response to his concerns is presented. (Author/MLW)

The present study addressed the validity of student ratings of instructional effectiveness by exploring the relations among student ratings, course performance, and the perceived attitude similarity of students and their instructors. Findings fail to support the claim that perceived attitude similarity is a substantial source of bias in student…

Controversies exist in the research literature on student evaluation of instruction in higher education. In three studies, one of these controversies is explored, namely the relationship among student personality characteristics, teacher ratings, and student achievement. Findings suggest four conclusions relevant to summative evaluations of…

The relationship between course ratings, student achievement, and the perceived attitude similarity of students and their instructors were explored with 645 students enrolled in 41 courses taught at English-language institutions in Montreal, Quebec. These institutions provide instruction intermediate between secondary school and the university.…

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of teacher grading standards on student ratings of teacher performance. In experiment one, three teacher characteristics were factorially manipulated: instructor expressiveness (high, low), lecture content (high, low), and grading standards (B, C+, C). In experiment two, student incentive…