Ratemyprofessors is hogwash (but I care): Effects of Ratemyprofessors and university-administered teaching evaluations on professors

This study investigated the effect of evaluation origin, Ratemyprofessors.com (RMP) or university-administered student evaluations of teaching (UASET), and valence, positive or negative, on professors' affect about teaching, self-efficacy for various aspects of teaching, and self-efficacy for professorial competence. Participants were 128 professors who responded to a recruitment email; they participated in an experimental manipulation via SurveyMonkey and were exposed to either RMP positive, RMP negative, UASET positive, or UASET negative evaluations. Evaluation valence alone influenced participants' affect and self-efficacy; affect and self-efficacy changed in the direction of feedback valence. Although participants consider RMP to be less accurate and less serious than UASET, RMP and UASET feedback influenced the participants equally. Feedback influence did not vary by participants' tenure status. Implications of RMP and UASET feedback on the professor-student relationship and student learning are discussed. Implications for RMP on professors and their employment are also discussed. Recommendations for the interpretation of RMP feedback are provided.