Carney Curve

Boston College course evaluations · every published number, ranked class by class

Positions account for how many records stand behind each number, so one perfect review does not outrank a semester of them. Every score shown is the real average — only the ordering is adjusted.

Class record · EDUC · LSOE

EDUC 9851

Qualitative Research Methods · 4 instructors on record · 9 sections

What the course score is made of
94BC evaluations9 records · weight ×1.0 · Fall 2021 – Spring 2026
Student reviewsno reviews — does not contribute
RateMyProfessorsno ratings — does not contribute

That is the class itself, averaged across everyone who taught it. Who taught it, and how each of them scored, is the board below — that is what a student picking a section is actually choosing between.

What the challenge rank is made of
88thMore challenging than 88% of BC classesranked against every one we hold
97BC — “Intellectually Challenging”9 records · raw score out of 100

Boston College's own “intellectually challenging” question for this class only — students answer it positively about courses that stretched them, so it measures intellectual challenge and NOT grading, workload or quality. Almost every BC class scores high on it, which is why it is shown as a rank rather than a score.

What the workload rank is made of
78thMore work than 78% of BC classesranked against every one we hold
60BC — “Workload”9 records · raw score out of 100

Boston College reports workload for this class only as one of five bands, not as a number of hours, and it does not publish what the bands mean — so this site will not translate it into hours. Higher means more work, which is not the same as worse.

Qualitative Research Methods offers an introduction to qualitative research methods across the social sciences. This course provides opportunities to read about and discuss diverse approaches to qualitative research design, examine research studies in the field of education and other areas, and participate in multiple aspects of qualitative research. The purpose is to develop practical skills, analyze strong examples of qualitative research, and discuss enduring dilemmas in qualitative methods. The course integrates critical perspectives as well as foundational concepts in our study of qualitative methods as we ask questions about whose perspective is elevated, how particular forms of communication are privileged, and how we can best approach our work given the affordances and limitations of qualitative research. Throughout the course, students will apply qualitative research skills to their own experiences and research interests, read high-quality examples of qualitative research from across fields and within their own research areas, and lead class activities and discussions.

The board

4 instructors · ranked on this class onlyCompare the top 3

Scores are real averages. The order also accounts for how many records back each one — the count is under every score — so one perfect review does not outrank a semester of them.

RankInstructorOverallWorkloadChallenge
1Scott SeiderCounseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology1003 records93rd92nd
2Faythe BeaucheminTeacher Education and Currriculum and Instruction Provisional1001 record78th69th
3Ankhi ThakurtaTeacher Education and Currriculum and Instruction Provisional961 record25th69th
4Rebecca LowenhauptEducational Leadership and Higher Education944 records78th91st

How this board is orderedPositions account for how many records stand behind each number, so one perfect review does not outrank a semester of them. Every score shown is the real average — only the ordering is adjusted. The comparison here is the class itself: a thin record is read against how this class was rated overall, not against the university.

Every instructor with an evaluation record for this class is on this board — it is not a top ten, and nothing is hidden behind a “show more”. Overall is the instructor's blended score for THIS class only, and its one contributing source is Boston College's evaluations for the sections in the row's record count — nothing on this board is an average across the other things they teach. Workload and Challenge are RANKS against every class we hold, not scores: BC's questions all sit near the top of the 1-5 scale, so a raw number would put almost every row in the high eighties and tell you nothing. Challenge is BC's “intellectually challenging” item, which students answer positively about courses that stretched them — it is not a measure of difficulty or grading. Neither column is ever marked better or worse. 2 of 4 rows are marked provisional: fewer than 3 records stand behind the number. That is thin evidence, not a bad instructor — the record count is in every row.

The line

All 13 items · means across 9 records
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
9666th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
9884th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
9670th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
9663rd pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
9680th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
9891st pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
9571st pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
9474th pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
9151st pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
9780th pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
6078th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
9788th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
9252nd pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

Game log

9 sections · newest first
InstructorTermSecInstrCourseWork
Faythe BeaucheminSpring 2026011009060
Ankhi ThakurtaSpring 202501969640
Rebecca LowenhauptFall 20240110010060
Scott SeiderSpring 202401100100
Rebecca LowenhauptFall 2023019797
Scott SeiderSpring 2023011009080
Rebecca LowenhauptFall 20220110010060
Scott SeiderSpring 202201100100
Rebecca LowenhauptFall 202101807360

How to read this boardInstructors are ranked on their record in this class only, never on their average across everything they teach. Scores are out of 100 — Boston College's 1–5 agreement scale, ×20, the way these numbers were printed for years. Workload is BC's own five-band figure, not a number of hours, and is shown as a rank. A dash means the question was not reported, and is never a zero.