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)

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…

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…

Limitations of the confirmatory factor analysis conducted by H. W. Marsh to demonstrate the multidimensionality of a rating form to assess student evaluation of teaching effectiveness are discussed. A secondary analysis suggests that dimensionality is not stable across solutions and a global factor can be retrieved. (SLD)

The relationship between student/teacher attitude similarity and teacher evaluations was studied in a group of 222 students who completed a 24-item attitude scale, once for themselves and once for their instructors, and a 28-item teacher rating form (TRF). A significant, moderate-sized correlation between assumed similarity and TRF scores for…

Studies of teacher rating form (TRF) generalizability have focused primarily on two classes of variables: student characteristics and teacher characteristics. Since the goal of most TRF researchers is to show that TRF scores correlate with teacher-produced student achievement, a suitable generalizability study would investigate the relationship…

Multidimensional rating forms used for college student evaluation of faculty elicit information that can be used to evaluate the dimensions of instruction either separately or globally. Portions of the information may be useful for formative evaluation, but global items are best for making personnel decisions. (MSE)

Primary research on student ratings of instruction is reviewed, and questions about the validity of such ratings as measures of teacher effectiveness are explored using nomological coding of 43 validity studies to examine causes of variability in coefficients of validity. Deficiencies of prior analyses and research needs are identified. (SLD)