Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships between student ratings of college teaching using four types of student rating instruments and pre- vs. post-student achievement gains in 36 sections of an undergraduate analytic geometry and calculus course. Student rating instruments used varied according to type of items (high vs. low inference) and focus (students rating their own perceived growth vs. rating the instructor). Data were collected on 799 students (66% freshmen; 16% sophomore; and 15% juniors) at the University of Florida, and relationships were analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation technique. Significant relationships were not found between student ratings and student achievement.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barr, A. S. et al. (1961). “Wisconsin Studies of Measurement and Prediction of Teacher Effectiveness: A Summary of Investigations.” Madison: Dembar Publications.
Barro, S. M. (1970). “An approach to developing accountability measures for the public schools.” Phi Delta Kappa 52:196–205.
Centra, J. A. (1973). The student as godfather? The impact of student ratings on academia. Educational Researcher 2:4–8.
Cook, J. M., and Neville, K. F. (1971). “The Faculty as Teachers: A Perspective on Evaluation.” Washington, D.C.: ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education, report 13 (ED-0540392; AA-727).
Costin, F., Greenough, W. T., and Menges, R. J. (1971). Student ratings of college teaching: Reliability, validity and usefulness. Review of Educational Research 41:511–535.
Cronbach, L. J., and Furby, L. (1970). How do we measure change — or should we? Psychological Bulletin 74:68–80.
Davis, R. H. (1969). Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS). Technical Bulletin, East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University, Office of Evaluation Services.
Doyle, K. O. (1975). “Student Evaluation of Instruction.” Lexington, Mass.: D. C. Heath.
Gessner, P. K. (1973). Evaluation of Instruction. Science 180:566–670.
Greenwood, G. E. et al. (1973). Student evaluation of college teaching behaviors instrument: A factor analysis. Journal of Higher Education 44:596–604.
Hogan, T., and Hartley, E. (1972). Some additional factors in student evaluation of courses. American Educational Research Journal 9:241–250.
Howsam, R. B. (1960). Who's a good teacher? Problems and progress in teacher evaluation. California Teachers Association.
Justiz, T. B. (1969). A reliable measure of teacher effectiveness. Educational Leadership Research Supplement 3:49–55.
McGuigan, F. J. (1974). Amount learned: An empirical basis for grading teachers and students. Teaching of Psychology 1:10–15.
McInnis, T. (1966). Some methodological considerations and a report of some research findings concerning course and/or teacher evaluations by students. Champaign: University of Illinois, Office of Instructional Resources.
McKeachie, W. J. (1972). Student evaluations keyed to function. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Convention, Chicago.
McKeachie, W. J., Lins, Y., and Mann, W. (1971). Student ratings of teacher effectiveness: validity studies. American Educational Research Journal 8:435–445.
McNeil, J. D. (1967). Concomitants of using behavioral objectives in the assessment of teacher effectiveness. Journal of Experimental Education 36:69–74.
Miller, R. I. (1972). “Evaluating Faculty Performance.” Washington: Jossey-Bass.
Morsh, J. E., and Wilder, E. W. (1954). Identifying the effective instructor: a review of quantitative studies. Res. Bull. no. AFPTRC-TR-54-44 San Antonio: USAF Personnel Training Research Center.
Remmers, H. H., and Elliott, D. (1927). Manual of the rating scale for instruction. West Lafayette, Indiana: University Book Store.
Rodin, B., and Rodin, M. (1972). Student evaluations of teachers. Science 177:1164–1166.
Rosenshine, B. (1971). New directions for research on teaching. Paper presented at conference “How Teachers Make a Difference” (Smith, B. O., ed.). Washington, D.C.
Tomlinson, L. R. (1955). Recent studies in the evaluation of teaching. Educational Research Bulletin 34:172–186.
Turner, R. L., and Thompson, R. P. (1974). Relationships and residual learning. Paper presented at the 1974 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois.
Ware, J. E., Jr., and Williams, R. G. (1975). The Dr. Fox effect: A study of lecturer effectiveness and ratings of instruction. Journal of Medical Education 50:149–156.
Whily, S. E., and Doyle, Jr., K. O. (1973). Student ratings and criteria for effective teaching. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Measurement Services Center, University of Minnesota.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Greenwood, G.E., Hazelton, A., Smith, A.B. et al. A study of the validity of four types of student ratings of college teaching assessed on a criterion of student achievement gains. Res High Educ 5, 171–178 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992010
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992010