IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLASS SIZE AND STUDENT-RATINGS OF TEACHING QUALITY

The relationship between class size and student evaluation of universi ty teaching quality was analyzed. Data from 2,915 university classroom s were collected in classes ranging from 1 to 234 students. Results st rongly support conclusions that (a) there is a weak relationship betwe en class size and student ratings of teaching quality, when both stati stical significance and effect size are taken into account; and (b) th e relationship is a nonlinear one, whose shape is basically determined by the range of class size and the number of different values selecte d. Theoretical, methodological, and practical implications are discuss ed.