title: Comparison of differences in performance evaluation of faculty by students with faculty's self-assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to compare self-assessment forms of coursework taught in the school of public health at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels and students' evaluation of the performance of the faculty members at these levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects in this cross-sectional study were the faculty members and students of the School of Public Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. The data were collected using a socio-demographic information form and evaluation forms of professors prepared by the Educational Development Center (EDC). The faculty members were assessed by the students in undergraduate and graduate classes. Among the study subjects, 23 faculty members filled out the self-assessment forms which were then evaluated by 23 students. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical 14. Paired t-test was used to compare the students' evaluation of the faculty members' performance and the professors' self-assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of self-assessment of the faculty members who taught undergraduate courses was 289.7±8.3, while that of the students' evaluation was 281.3±16.1; the difference was statistically significant (t=3.56, p=0.001). Besides, the mean score of the self-assessment of the faculty members who taught graduate courses was 269.0±9.7, while that of the students' evaluation was 265.7±14.6 but the difference was not statistically significant (t=1.09, p=0.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teaching performance perceptions of the faculty were similar to those of the graduate students as compared to the undergraduate ones. This may reflect better understanding of coursework at this level compared to the undergraduate students. Faculty members may need to adjust teaching methods to improve students' performance and understanding especially in the undergraduate level.
authors.affiliation: Medical entomology department, Health and Nutrition School, Health Sciences Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Public health department, Health School, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran;
authors.forename: Teamur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aghamolaei
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parsa
authors.affiliation: Medical entomology department, Health and Nutrition School, Health Sciences Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dabbaghmanesh
keywords: Evaluation; Faculty; Performance; Student