Student Evaluations of Teaching: Latent Topics and its Differences by Race/Ethnicity and Gender

• In Event: Sociology of Education Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 27. Students, Teachers, and Organizations in Conversation

Abstract

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are used in higher education to assess teacher performance and quality. However, critics of SETs would argue that they are a poor tool of evaluation. Literature on SETs often use survey methods that rely on quantitative measurements (e.g., instructor ratings, course ratings) to argue for or against its value to higher education. However, a key component is often missing or unavailable: student comments. This study utilizes institutional data from a private Northeastern university for the 2011-2017 school years and includes student comments. I find that differences exist by race/ethnicity and gender in both the tone and degree in which they discuss certain topics.

Author

• Tai Taliaoa, New York University