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)