Matthew Kaplan, Lisa A. Mets, Constance E. Cook
What do we know about the relationship between grades and student ratings?
Teachers in classes with higher expected grades have slightly higher ratings on teacher evaluations. Such results could mean that student ratings are biased and that instructors receive higher ratings because they give higher grades. However, in studies of courses with multiple sections, there are differences among instructors' average ratings when there is no difference in average expected grade. Therefore, we cannot conclude that instructors receive higher ratings because they give higher grades. Research done in experimental settings confirms that the effect of grades on student ratings may be overstated. In these experiments, sections graded on a "C" curve do not give significantly lower evaluations than those graded on a "B" curve. Grading fairness, on the other hand, does appear to influence student ratings. Studies indicate that instructors need to grade fairly and consistently and give students realistic expectations about their grades. When instructors give grades that contradict students' performance and expectations, they do, in fact, receive lower student ratings. Read more »