Exploring the relationship between class size and student ratings

The University of Queensland collects data on students’ perceptions of their university experience at the course (unit) level using the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Course questionnaire, which asks participants to rate their experience in these two areas against seven specific items and a single overall rating per area. Each course and each teacher on the course are evaluated using this single instrument. Research was undertaken on the relationship between class size and student ratings. Would changes in the size of a class cohort impact upon the ratings? Four class size categories were identified and analysis was undertaken on the single overall rating and also on a composite average of the specific items. The research revealed a statistically significant, inverse relationship between class size and ratings. The power of the models developed however was very poor, suggesting a weak relationship. A consistent trend however was that ratings decreased across all analyses, such that small classes yielded highest ratings, followed in descending order by medium, large and extra-large classes. This trend was noted for analyses on data of both course and teacher. If it is the case that larger class sizes consistently anticipate lower ratings than smaller classes, there are institutional implications, for example in the realm of internal funding allocation