Assessment of the Reliability and Validity of Student-Lecturer Evaluation Questionnaire: A Case of North West University

Abstract

The study assessed the reliability and the validity of student-lecturer evaluation questionnaire used at the North West University in South Africa. The questionnaire was first used during the second semester of the year 2011 and was distributed to all students registered and present for lectures for piloting. This tool has not been tested for statistical significance before it could be implemented. It was however circulated on round robin to academics across the University for their inputs before it could be finalised. A total of 442 questionnaires distributed to students on a particular day of the year 2013 was analysed using Statistical Analysis Software version 9.3. Preliminary data analysis results provided enough evidence to conclude that the selected sample was adequate with the correlation matrix confirming the appropriateness of factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha confirmed that individual and collective constructs in the questionnaire are reliable. Exploratory factor analysis results helped in rearranging the student-lecturer evaluation questionnaire collecting the 26 statements into four factors instead of the original five. The results obtained in this study will be presented to the academic development centre of the university and suggestions based on the findings about the questionnaire will also be given. The tool may also through the permission of the university be recommended to schools in the area. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n14p352