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Forty-one semantic differential scales measuring the concept of a good teacher were factor analyzed to assess the general, underlying judgmental dimensions which students use in evaluating effectiveness in teaching. Both high school and college students judged teachers on the dimensions of student/teacher rapport, communicative style, instructional style, and stimulation. A personalization factor, measuring the teacher’s ability to personalize and make relevant class materials, was also found among college students and conceptually distinguished them from the high school students. In addition to class level differences, sex differences across students were also investigated.

Student knowledgeability, a measure of a student's background knowledge and interest in an area of study, was found to significantly influence student ratings of instructors and courses. The higher the level of student knowledge‐ ability, the higher that student rated courses and instructors, regardless of how a particular course/instructor was actually ranked when compared to all other courses/instructors used in the study. This was interpreted as reflecting the highly knowledgeable students’ greater sensitivity to and appreciation of good teaching as well as their ability to minimize the consequences of poor teaching for themselves.

Student knowledgeability, class size, and class level were found to significantly influence students' ratings of instruction. In general, the more knowledgeable the student in an area, the higher his ratings of courses and instructors in that area. Also, large courses and advanced courses were most highly rated by students. The effect of student sex on student ratings of instruction varied as a function of the particular aspect of instruction being evaluated. Significant interactions among the four main effects were also found across the judgmental dimensions students utilized in evaluating instruction, as assessed by factor analysis. Student knowledgeability and class size were found to be the main predictors of student ratings on these dimensions.