Faculty perceptions of the performance appraisal process

In recent decades, there has been increasing pressure for teacher accountability and interest in teacher evaluation throughout the world. While much research has been conducted on significant factors contributing to high student achievement, including the examination of the positive correlation between the faculty evaluation process and student success, there is a lack of research in the Vietnamese culture on faculty perceptions of the meaning and influences of faculty performance evaluation. This study addressed faculty perceptions of a particular evaluation process and their perceptions of its impact on their teaching performance. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore full-time faculty members' perceptions of the evaluation or performance appraisal (PA) process currently implemented in a private university in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The study utilized data obtained from individual, semi-structured interviews with12 full-time faculty participants. After data analysis, the following salient findings were identified. First, faculty found a PA process that emphasized both competency and highlighted professional growth beneficial and motivating in measuring their performance and enhancing their teaching quality. Second, significant factors contributing to faculty positive perceptions of the PA process and to faculty instructional improvement included the clarity of the PA purpose, faculty involvement in the PA design and development, and the critical role of the evaluator and his/her constructive feedback in the PA process. Finally, faculty strongly recommended that additional types of evaluation, especially student feedback, be incorporated into the PA process and more opportunities be made available for professional development. As a result of these findings, this study could serve as a catalyst for policymakers and school leaders in improving the existing evaluation processes and in increasing their insight into how instructors perceive these policies and what factors contribute to their perceptions. In addition, the findings could stimulate further research on appraisal policy reform. Identifying key factors that instructors believe are critical in an effective evaluations process could assist the leadership in finding tools to make process meet instructors' expectations