Reaction of lecturers to analysis results of student ratings of their lecture skills.
Lecturers in a medical biochemistry course were evaluated by medical students with respect to overall impression and seven specific characteristics expected to predict overall impression. Each lecturer's ratings were subjected to stepwise multiple regression analysis to identify the characteristics that best accounted for the students' overall impression. The results were fed back to the lecturers, and each lecturer was subsequently interviewed. The interviews revealed that 60 percent of the lecturers had not correctly interpreted the analysis. Half of the lecturers expressed interest in improving their performance, and 20 percent of the lecturers requested specific, detailed guidance in overcoming problems. The author concludes that multivariate analysis of student ratings can generate feedback specific enough to guide teacher improvement but that it is essential to present the information to the faculty in conjunction with individual discussions.
D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education; D003142:Communication; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010414:Pennsylvania; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000592:standards*