Item 22, "Overall, [the Instructor] Was an Effective Teacher": Multiple Meanings and Confounding Influences

Authors

  • Elaine Kolitch State University of New York, New Paltz Author
  • Ann V. Dean State University of New York, New Paltz Author

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate students' interpretations of the global evaluation item "Overall, [the instructor] was an effective teacher" that frequently appears on student evaluation forms. Through narratives and semi-structured interviews, 96 undergraduate students described classroom experiences, beliefs about good teaching, and aspects of the evaluation process that influenced their rating on this item. The authors grouped the responses according to two categories: multiple meanings (with the subcategories of finding an average, identifying one or more critical dimensions, and responding to feelings and emotions) and confounding influences (with the subcategories of questioning the practice, fearing exposure and reprisal, and critiquing the items). Because of the multiple meanings and confounding influences that the global evaluation item produces, the authors recommend that it be interpreted as only a rough indicator of student satisfaction, and that its use within the academy for personnel decisions be carefully considered.

Published

2024-03-22