Influences on merit ratings

Abstract

After listening to a deliberately poor lecture, students in 5 psychology classes rated the lecturer. Before rating him, 3 of the groups suggested methods of improving his lecturing: one group did not submit their suggestions; in another group the suggestions were rejected, while in the third the lecturer accepted them. In the other two groups, suggestions were not made. "The ratings were: (a) consistently most favorable in the acceptance group; (b) more favorable in the suggestion group than the nosuggestion group; (c) significantly different on the characteristics of manner, poise, potential and knowledge… poor ratings may reflect barriers in communications… rather than true deficiencies in the ratees." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)