Trace Evaluations

As we have been discussing in class, another online system that does not have a high turnout is the SGA implemented trace evaluations. These evaluations, like the SGA elections, seem like a really convenient way to get students to evaluate their professors and give them feedback, however, the turn-out is so low sometimes that it makes the data statistically insignificant. To this end, they are encouraging professors to bribe their students with extra credit and candy. The professors in turn will get a "small reward" if they have a high trace turn-in rate. This system seems inherently off in the sense that professors shouldn't be bribing students to evaluate the class, and the problems with the low turn out rate seem more closely connected to what we have been discussing in class.

Like the SGA elections, the trace evaluations are online, so students do not have any influence from other students, since it is an isolated process that takes initiative. I know at least the English and Cinema department has their own evaluation forms that they give out, which students must complete in class and return to the department office. It is no surprise that these surveys have an almost 100% response rate, since students are taking the surveys in a setting with other students doing the same thing and in a place that they are already thinking about the class, so it is much easier to remember what has been going on throughout the semester. Students do not have to take these surveys, but I have never seen anyone in class not fill them out. That being said, this in class survey might impact the trace evaluations, since students feel like they've given back feedback once already. English and Cinema students might feel that their opinions have already been heard, and, therefore they do feel as motivated to fill out an additional online form as well. Perhaps SGA should take a cue from some of the social network research and apply those concepts to the implementation of professor evaluations by having teachers set aside class time for students to fill out the evaluation in a social setting. Then the University would not have to resort to bribery (a tactic that psychologically has proven not to have lasting success).