Research in Higher Education

, Volume 17, Issue 3, pp 195–206 | Cite as

Causes and consequences of student evaluation of instruction

  • Brent T. Bruton
  • Sue R. Crull
Article

Abstract

Student evaluation of course quality was examined as an intervening variable in a path model with seven input variables and the following two output variables: (1) whether students would recommend the course to others, and (2) students' plans to take more courses in the discipline. Student evaluation of the lecturer was the most powerful input variable for the intervening variable course rating. Class format, defined as lecture or lecture with small groups, did not affect course ratingper se but did relate to students' attitudes toward taking more courses in the discipline. Lecturer and textbook evaluation had significant independent effects on whether the student would recommend the course to others. The major implication for university departments is that quality of instruction in introductory courses has impact on future enrollment plans.

Keywords

Small Group Powerful Input Independent Effect Education Research Output Variable 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Asher, H. B.Causal modeling. Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications, 1976.Google Scholar
  2. Astin, A. W. et al. The American freshman: national norms for Fall 1979. Los Angeles: Cooperative Institutional Research Program, Laboratory for Research in Higher Education. Graduate School of Education, University of California, 1980.Google Scholar
  3. Baker, P. J. Inquiry into the teaching-learning process: trickery, folklore, or science?Teaching Sociology 1980,3 237–245.Google Scholar
  4. Bolton, B., Bonge, D., and Marr, J. Ratings of instruction, examination performance and subsequent enrollment in psychology courses.Teaching of Psychology 1979,6 82–85.Google Scholar
  5. Centra, J. A. Student ratings of instructors and their relationship to student learning.American Educational Research Journal 1977,14 17–24.Google Scholar
  6. Centra, J. A.Determining faculty effectiveness. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1979.Google Scholar
  7. Costin, F., Greenough, W. T., and Menges, R. J. Student ratings of college teaching: reliability, validity and usefulness.Review of Educational Research 1971,41 511–535.Google Scholar
  8. Doyle, K. O.Student evaluation of instruction. Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, 1975.Google Scholar
  9. Doyle, K. O., Jr., and Whitely, S. E. Student ratings as criteria for effective teaching.American Educational Research Journal 1974,11 259–274.Google Scholar
  10. Dubin, R., and Taveggia, T. C.The teaching-learning paradox: a comparative study of college teaching methods. Eugene, Oreg.: Center for the Advanced Study of Educational Administration, University of Oregon, 1968.Google Scholar
  11. Feldman, K. A. Consistency and variability among college students in rating their teachers and courses: a review and analysis.Research in Higher Education 1977,6 233–274.Google Scholar
  12. Frey, P. W. Student ratings of teaching: Validity of several rating factors.Science 1973,182 83–85.Google Scholar
  13. Frey, P. W. A two-dimensional analysis of student ratings of instruction.Research in Higher Education 1978,9 69–91.Google Scholar
  14. Grasha, A. A.Assessing and developing faculty performance: principles and models. Cincinnati, Ohio: Communication and Education Associates, 1977.Google Scholar
  15. Jiobu, R. M., and Pollis, C. A. Student evaluations of courses and instructors.The American Sociologist 1971,6 317–321.Google Scholar
  16. Krathwohl, D., Bloom, B., and Masia, B.Taxonomy of educational objectives, handbook II affective domain. New York: McKay, 1964.Google Scholar
  17. Kulik, J. A., and Kulik, C. C. Student ratings of instruction.Teaching of Psychology 1974,1 51–57.Google Scholar
  18. Marsh, H. W., Fleiner, H., and Thomas, C. S. Validity and usefulness of student evaluations of instructional quality.Journal of Educational Psychology 1975,67 833–839.Google Scholar
  19. Marsh, H. W., and Overall, J. U. Validity of students' evaluations of teaching effectiveness: cognitive and affective criteria.Journal of Educational Psychology 1980,72 468–475.Google Scholar
  20. McGee, R. Does teaching make any difference?: a perplexed essay.Teaching Sociology 1974,1 210–223.Google Scholar
  21. McKeachie, W. J., and Solomon, D. Student ratings of instructors: a validity study.Journal of Educational Research 1958,51 379–383.Google Scholar
  22. McKeachie, W. J.Teaching tips. A guide for the beginning college teacher. Lexington, Mass.: Heath, 1969.Google Scholar
  23. McKeachie, W. J., and Kulik, J. A. Effective college teaching. In F. N. Kerlinger (Ed.),Review of research in education, Vol. 3. Itasca, Ill.: Peacock, 1975.Google Scholar
  24. McKeachie, W. J. Student ratings of faculty: a reprise.Academe 1979,65 384–397.Google Scholar
  25. Naftulin, J. E., Ware, J. E., and Donnelly, F. A. The Dr. Fox lecture: a paradigm of educational seduction.Journal of Medical Education 1973,48 630–635.Google Scholar
  26. Rodin, M., and Rodin, B. Student evaluation of teachers.Science 1972,177 1164–1166.Google Scholar
  27. Taveggia, T. C. Goodbye teacher, goodbye classroom, hello learning: a radical appraisal of teaching-learning linkages at the college level.Journal of Personalized Instruction 1977,2 119–122.Google Scholar
  28. Vaughan, C. A. Identifying course goals: domains and levels of learning.Teaching Sociology 1980,7 265–279.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Agathon Press, Inc 1982

Authors and Affiliations

  • Brent T. Bruton
    • 1
  • Sue R. Crull
    • 1
  1. 1.Iowa State UniversityUSA

Personalised recommendations