Assessing the Effectiveness of Students Evaluation of Teachers: A Qualitative Analysis of Pakistan’s Higher Education

Abstract

Students’ evaluation of teaching (SET) is considered one of the potent instruments to ensure quality in teaching and hence in higher education. Academicians across the globe, however, expressed their concerns over its validity and effectiveness in maintaining quality in higher education. This paper undertook the issue and attempted to excavate the factors of the inefficacy of SETs deeper. Special emphasis was also laid on the investigation of the relationship between grade inflation and SET ratings, teachers and faculty perceptions of SETs, lower response rate, and online evaluations and their effectiveness. A qualitative research methodology has been adopted to carry out the study. Data for the study was attained from 24 respondents, including university teachers, administrators, and students in two public sector universities.  A purposive sampling technique was used to choose respondents. An interview guide was used to collect data from the respondents. Collected data was coded and clubbed together to develop meaningful themes. This study's findings affirmed that SETs validity is partly influenced by the physical attractiveness of the teacher. The findings further suggest that administrators are more confident in SETs' validity and usage than faculty. The relationship between grade inflation and SETs was found genuine, however, it is further added that; 1) the teachers do not buy good ratings from students intentionally; 2) Visiting faculty is more vulnerable to inflating grades to buy good ratings from students than regular faculty involved voluntarily in this grad buying faculty the practice of SET requires reforms to make them effective in maintaining quality in teaching and hence in higher education. Contrary to findings of early studies on online or electronic evaluations, it was found online evaluations have not decreased the response rate. It is suggested that anonymity in online evaluation can be preserved by giving the students open access to the evaluations portal.