Class Size and Student Evaluations of Faculty

This investigation of class size and student evaluations of faculty is based on data for over 4,000 college and university classes on 16 campuses across the country. The data reveal a surprising but definite curvilinear relationship between class size and teacher ratings. The pattern persists when the relationship is controlled for the teachers' experience. Alternative explanations based upon teachers' behavior and teacher selection are discussed as well as implications of the findings for university administration.