On the use of course evaluations for purposes of faculty personnel decisions

Abstract

Many universities utilize student teaching evaluations even though their validity is hotly contested in the research. This study examines publicly available data of all sections of courses evaluated in a program at a large public research university over three successive semesters to determine if claims of validity can be confirmed. Additionally, this study investigates other characteristics of the data such as the relationship between course average grade and per course global indicators of teaching and course effectiveness. Given the findings, the study offers policy recommendations for the use of the student teaching evaluations in faculty personnel decisions.