Exploring SET Instructor, Course, and Student Biases in a Large, Urban, Public, R1 Business School

Abstract

Using the SET questions as the dependent variable(s), this study answers the following research questions: (1) Are the Instructor variables of gender and race biasing factors?; (2) Are the Course variables of class size and content (qualitative to quantitative ratio) biasing factors?; (3) Is the Student variable of section-level GPA related to SET ratings?; (4) Is the administrative mode of data collection, the change from pencil and paper to online data collection, a biasing factor? Questions were answered through bivariate correlations and two-way repeated measures ANOVAs. This study found there was a significant effect on SET outcomes as a function of race, but not for gender. While class size had no significant effect on SET outcomes, the section-level GPA and the amount of qualitative vs quantitative course content did. The administrative mode of data collection had a significant effect, mostly due to the large sample size.