Dependability of Undergraduate Students Evaluation from Educational Practice of Faculty Members

The aim of this study was to estimate the dependability coefficient of undergraduate student's evaluation scores of teaching performance within a generalizability theory framework. To this purpose, assessment data of professors in the first semester of academic year 2014-2015, recorded in educational system of Allameh Tabatabai University, were defined as statistical society. Then, performance assessments scores of 12 professors were selected as statistical sample using multistage random sampling. Data were analyzed using multi-facet nested design to evaluate dependability coefficient of data. Findings suggest that dependability coefficient of student's views on teaching performance of professors is not the same for all departments. In addition, mean evaluation scores of eight professors from 12 samples should not be regarded as the basis for decision-making, since their dependability coefficient is lower than expected. According to the results, it is suggested to evaluate dependability coefficient of student's views first for promotion of guest or adjunct professors or renewal of their contracts. If this dependability coefficient was lower than expected, their views should not be considered as a basis for decision making.