An analysis of the relationships between management faculty teaching ratings and characteristics of the classes they teach

Abstract

This study uses ratings from Ratemyprofessors.com to examine how ratings differ across different types of management classes. A sample of 3570 undergraduate class ratings taught by 274 professors at nine Florida universities are examined. T-test results show significant ratings differences between core, capstone, and major classes. For example, professors teaching core classes earn lower ratings than professors teaching major or capstone classes and professors teaching major classes earn lower ratings than those teaching capstone classes. For professors teaching major classes, however, there are no significant differences in ratings between required and elective classes or between quantitative and non-quantitative classes, even though students consider quantitative classes and to be less easy and they report less interest in those classes. A series of regressions also reveal how professors’ characteristics, academic ranks, and the use of humor in the classroom are related to teaching ratings for different classes. These results provide evidence that teaching ratings are related to both the different types of classes taught and to some professor characteristics. The results should be of interest to both faculty who are rated by students and to administrators who use ratings data when evaluating professors for performance review purposes and tenure and promotion decisions.