A multilevel meta-analysis of student evaluations of teaching and academic achievement


Şahin Kürşad M., İlgün Dibek M., Erdoğan T.

Studies in Educational Evaluation, cilt.90, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 90
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.stueduc.2026.101644
  • Dergi Adı: Studies in Educational Evaluation
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Index Islamicus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Moderator analysis, Multilevel meta-analysis, Student achievement, Student evaluations of teaching, Teaching effectiveness, Validity
  • TED Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are widely used to judge instructional quality, yet their relationship with student learning remains contested. Drawing on a synthesis of correlational evidence, this study re-examines the association between SETs and student achievement (SA) using a multilevel meta-analytic framework that accounts for statistical dependence among effects. Across 57 studies with 241 correlations, the results show a statistically significant but modest positive relationship (r = .30). This suggests that student ratings are neither arbitrary nor definitive indicators of learning outcomes, but reflect a detectable yet limited association that should be interpreted with caution. Robust variance estimation and sensitivity analyses for small-sample moderator categories were applied to strengthen inference. By providing an updated and methodologically refined estimate of the SET–achievement relationship, this study offers a more balanced empirical perspective on the validity and appropriate use of student evaluations in educational decision-making.