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Single Comments or Average Ratings: Which Elements of RateMyProfessors.com[TM] Shape University Students' Judgments and Course Choice Intentions?

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Title: Single Comments or Average Ratings: Which Elements of RateMyProfessors.com[TM] Shape University Students' Judgments and Course Choice Intentions?
Language: English
Authors: Scherr, Sebastian, Muller, Philipp, Fast, Victoria
Source: Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability. May 2013 25(2):131-141.
Availability: Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2013
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Teacher Evaluation, College Faculty, Web Sites, Course Evaluation, Intention, Course Selection (Students)
DOI: 10.1007/s11092-013-9164-z
ISSN: 1874-8597
Abstract: The use and abuse of course and lecturer rating websites such as RateMyProfessors.com[TM] is a highly relevant topic for universities' evaluation and assessment policies and practice. However, only a few studies have paid attention to the actual influence of teaching evaluation websites on the students themselves--that is, their perceptions of a certain course and their course choice intention at university. Findings point to the fact that positive comments on the website about professors improve students' evaluations. However, professor evaluation websites contain two types of information: single student comments and average ratings. Research on exemplification effects has shown that single cases often have a stronger influence on recipients than more valid base rate information. We test this assumption in an experiment (n = 126) using a professor evaluation website stimulus. Results show that single comments strongly influence opinions and course choice intentions but that they are moderated by the valence of the average rating.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 28
Entry Date: 2013
Accession Number: EJ1003699
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Single Comments or Average Ratings: Which Elements of RateMyProfessors.com[TM] Shape University Students' Judgments and Course Choice Intentions?
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  Data: Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
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  Data: The use and abuse of course and lecturer rating websites such as RateMyProfessors.com[TM] is a highly relevant topic for universities' evaluation and assessment policies and practice. However, only a few studies have paid attention to the actual influence of teaching evaluation websites on the students themselves--that is, their perceptions of a certain course and their course choice intention at university. Findings point to the fact that positive comments on the website about professors improve students' evaluations. However, professor evaluation websites contain two types of information: single student comments and average ratings. Research on exemplification effects has shown that single cases often have a stronger influence on recipients than more valid base rate information. We test this assumption in an experiment (n = 126) using a professor evaluation website stimulus. Results show that single comments strongly influence opinions and course choice intentions but that they are moderated by the valence of the average rating.
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