Peer Evaluation in the Classroom: A Check for Sex and Race/Ethnicity Effects

Using a sample of 221 undergraduate students enrolled in human resource management courses taught in a business school, this study checked for sex and race/ethnicity effects in peer ratings of classroom presentations. Student age and student presenter frequency of participation in the classroom were the control variables. Our primary goal was to find out whether peer ratings were susceptible to the same-group preference bias. Results showed no consistent tendency by students to favor student presenters from their own groups. Frequency of participation by presenters in classroom discussions turned out to be a better predictor of student ratings of presentations by peers than any of the other factors studied.