Student Use of Quantitative and Qualitative Information on Ratemyprofessors. Com for Course Selection

• Published in: College student journal Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 675 - 688
• Main Authors: Hayes, Matthew W., Prus, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Project Innovation 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Course Selection; Online Ratings; Ratemyprofessors; Student Evaluations
• ISSN: 0146-3934

The present study examined whether students used qualitative information, quantitative information, or both when making course selection decisions. Participants reviewed information on four hypothetical courses in an advising context before indicating their likelihood to enroll in those courses and ranking them according to preference. Modeled after information presented on the online site RateMyProfessors. corn, qualitative comments and quantitative averages were systematically varied. Participants also rated how much they use 11 different information sources (e.g., friends, university catalog) and how useful and reliable they perceived each of those sources to be. Results indicated that participants consider both qualitative and quantitative information when selecting courses. Significant correlations between use, usefulness, and reliability indicate that students selectively seek out infonnation sources they perceive to be reliable and useful. Though participants indicated that they used RateMyProfessors.com less than traditional sources such as friends, other students, and academic advisors, they perceive it to be as useful and reliable as these sources. These results suggest that students pursue information they believe to be valid when making course selection decisions and that they ignore presentation format, weighing qualitative and quantitative information equally.