The use of new and more flexible rating procedures along with increased faculty demands to take part in the evaluation process has begun to focus more attention on methods employed to obtain student ratings of faculty. This study addresses these issues by examining the effects of faculty choices pertaining to items, classes and administrative procedures, within the context of an ongoing university-wide project. Scales were developed to assess the effects of faculty choices in the following areas: student opinion about faculty performance and student opinion about the rating process, faculty opinion about specific characteristics of the rating process, and faculty opinion about the usefulness of the rating project. / The results of a 2 x 2 x 2 MANOVA with six depedent variables indicated that average student opinions about faculty performance were not related to faculty choices. Although teachers did prefer to choose classes, they did not expect the results of the student ratings to be more useful when class choice was permitted. No faculty preference was shown for choices related to items or administrative procedures. The results did not support the assertion that faculty members will use evaluative situations characterized by increased choice to improve educational programs. / These findings suggest two possible scenarios. The first one posits a faculty that does not and will not care about faculty choices associated with student ratings. The second situation is characterized by a faculty that is confused, disgusted, intimidated or bored by the complex issues surrounding the topic of student ratings, and is therefore, unable to make or use choices effectively. / If the first scenario is true, it would be prudent to abandon attempts to provide the faculty with choices related to student ratings. However, if the second scenario is closer to the truth, the faculty is in need of institutional support designed to clarify the procedures and goals associated with the application of summative and formative approaches to student ratings. The implementation of an educational program designed to address these needs should enlighten the faculty, encourage more effective use of student ratings, and support institutional goals. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, Section: A, page: 0100. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75737 |
| Contributors | MATTHEWS, TOM ALLEN., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 99 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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