Ratemyprofessors is hogwash (but I care): Effects of Ratemyprofessors and university-administered teaching evaluations on professors

• Published in: Computers in human behavior 2016-03, Vol.56, p.155-162
• Main Author: Boswell, Stefanie S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Email; Feedback; Human behavior; Learning; Origins; Ratemyprofessors.com; Recruitment; Self-efficacy; Student evaluations of teaching; Students; Teaching
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.045

This study investigated the effect of evaluation origin, Ratemyprofessors.com (RMP) or university-administered student evaluations of teaching (UASET), and valence, positive or negative, on professors' affect about teaching, self-efficacy for various aspects of teaching, and self-efficacy for professorial competence. Participants were 128 professors who responded to a recruitment email; they participated in an experimental manipulation via SurveyMonkey and were exposed to either RMP positive, RMP negative, UASET positive, or UASET negative evaluations. Evaluation valence alone influenced participants' affect and self-efficacy; affect and self-efficacy changed in the direction of feedback valence. Although participants consider RMP to be less accurate and less serious than UASET, RMP and UASET feedback influenced the participants equally. Feedback influence did not vary by participants' tenure status. Implications of RMP and UASET feedback on the professor–student relationship and student learning are discussed. Implications for RMP on professors and their employment are also discussed. Recommendations for the interpretation of RMP feedback are provided. •Ratemyprofessors and university evaluations affect professors equally.•Evaluation valence (positive/negative) impacts teaching affect and self-efficacy.•Explicit attitudes toward Ratemyprofessors and university evaluations differ.•Ratemyprofessors has implications for the professor–student relationship.•Ratemyprofessors has implications for professor's employment.