“Hot” Professors Are Good Professors or Good Professors Are “Hot” Professors

• In Event: Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Faculty, Teaching, and Professional Development

Abstract

There has been a considerable amount of research dedicated to investigating variables that impact student evaluations of teaching (SET). One of the most controversial of these variables is faculty attractiveness. The connection between faculty attractiveness and higher SETs is based on research using correlational statistics and data from the website RateMyProfessors.com (RMP), which have limitations and make the conclusions of this research problematic. Specifically, the assumed directionality of the relationship, attractiveness impacts SETs, may not be correct. Based on correlational findings it is equally as likely that perceptions of faculty teaching ability impacts students’ evaluations of faculty attractiveness. The present study investigates this issue with directionality using data from RMP and objective ratings of faculty attractiveness.

Authors

• Nathan E. Gonyea, SUNY - College at Oneonta

• Jeffrey Young, SUNY - College at Oneonta