Race and gender biases in student evaluations of teachers

Student ratings of teaching (SETs) are vital for academic career trajectories of higher education lecturers. Although student bias against female lecturers is noted in previous studies, mostly in the developed world, the extent to which race affects such ratings has received limited attention. To be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economics letters 2019-06, Vol.179, p.66-71
Main Authors: Chisadza, Carolyn, Nicholls, Nicky, Yitbarek, Eleni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Bias
Gender
Gender and race bias
Higher education
Lectures
Race
Racial bias
Sexism
Student evaluations of teaching
Teachers
Teaching
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Summary:Student ratings of teaching (SETs) are vital for academic career trajectories of higher education lecturers. Although student bias against female lecturers is noted in previous studies, mostly in the developed world, the extent to which race affects such ratings has received limited attention. To better understand the role of race and gender bias in SETs, we conduct an experiment in South Africa, where racial bias is highly prevalent. Students are randomly assigned to follow video lectures with identical narrated slides and script but given by lecturers of different race and gender. We find that black lecturers receive lower ratings than white lecturers, particularly from black students. •We use an RCT to investigate race and gender bias in student evaluations of teachers.•We note biases in favor of female lecturers and against black lecturers.•Of particular concern, black students show bias against black lecturers.
ISSN:0165-1765
1873-7374
DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2019.03.022