The Role of Student Ratings of Instruction from Perspectives of the Higher Education Administrators
Seyedeh Azadeh Safavi, Kamariah Abu Bakar, Rohani Ahmad Tarmizi, Nor Hayati Alwi

Abstract
Student ratings of higher education instructors are the most common evaluative procedure in universities around the world. Nevertheless, there are certain aspects of student ratings that require further research. This study investigated the role that student ratings actually played in administrative practices regarding instructional performance of academic staff within the context of a major research university. The population comprised administrators from 15 faculties which had a total enrolment of 25,628 students. The responses were subjected to descriptive statistics, multiple group analysis, one way ANOVA, and independent t-test. The results revealed that student ratings played an important role in administrative decision-making with regard to the instructional performance of academic staff. The findings also took cognisance of the respondents’ recommendations such as supplementing the ratings information with other measures of instructional quality, providing opportunities for less effective instructors to receive instructional consultation services, and providing an array of items so that different faculties could select items suitable for their needs.

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