Analyzing course evaluations
This notebook provides sample EDSL code for using a language model to analyze course evaluations. The analysis is designed as a survey of questions about a set of evaluations that we prompt an AI agent to answer, using a language model to generate the responses as a dataset.
EDSL is an open-source library for simulating surveys, experiments and other research with AI agents and large language models. Before running the code below, please ensure that you have installed the EDSL library and either activated remote inference from your Coop account or stored API keys for the language models that you want to use with EDSL. Please also see our documentation page for tips and tutorials on getting started.
Create questions
We start by creating questions about a set of course evaluations for an agent to answer. EDSL comes with a variety of question types that we can choose from based on the form of the response that we want to get back from a model (multiple choice, linear scale, checkbox, free text, numerical, dictionary, etc.). We can use a {{ placeholder }} in the question texts to parameterize them with each evaluation. This allows us to create
different “scenarios” of the questions that we can administer at once.
We start by importing some question types and composing questions in the relevant templates (see examples of all types in the docs):
[1]:
from edsl import QuestionList, QuestionMultipleChoice
[2]:
q_sentiment = QuestionMultipleChoice(
question_name="sentiment",
question_text="What is the overall sentiment of this evaluation: {{ scenario.evaluation }}",
question_options=["Positive", "Neutral", "Negative"],
)
q_themes = QuestionList(
question_name="themes",
question_text="Summarize the key points of this evaluation: {{ scenario.evaluation }}",
max_list_items=3, # Optional
)
q_improvements = QuestionList(
question_name="improvements",
question_text="Identify areas for improvement based on this evaluation: {{ scenario.evaluation }}",
max_list_items=3,
)
Construct a survey
Next we combine our questions into a survey. This allows us to administer the questions asynchronously (by default), or according to any desired survey logic or rules that we want to add, such as skip/stop rules or giving an agent “memories” of other questions in the survey. Here we create a simple asynchronous survey by passing the list of questions to a Survey object:
[3]:
from edsl import Survey
survey = Survey(questions=[q_sentiment, q_themes, q_improvements])
Select data for review
Next we identify the data to be analyzed. Here we use some mock evaluations for an Econ 101 course stored as a list of texts:
[4]:
evaluations = [
"I found the course very engaging and informative. The professor did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts, making them accessible to those of us new to economics. However, the pace was a bit fast, and I sometimes struggled to keep up with the weekly readings.",
"This class was a struggle for me. The material felt dry and difficult to connect with real-world applications, which I think could have made it more interesting. More examples from current events would definitely have helped spark my interest.",
"Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging.",
"As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times.",
"I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes.",
"The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions.",
"This was my favorite class this semester! The mix of theory and case studies was perfect, and the exams were fair. I also really appreciated the diversity of perspectives we explored in class, especially in terms of global economic policies.",
"I found the textbook to be overly complex for an introductory course. It often used jargon that hadn't been explained in lectures, which was confusing. Simpler reading materials or more explanatory lectures would make a big difference for newcomers to economics.",
"The professor was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about economics, but I felt the course relied too heavily on tests rather than more creative forms of assessment. More varied assignments would make the course more accessible to students with different learning styles.",
"This class was a solid introduction to economics, though it leaned heavily on theoretical aspects. I would have liked more opportunities to discuss the real-world implications of economic theories, which I believe would enhance understanding and retention of the material.",
]
Add data to the questions
Next we create a ScenarioList with a Scenario containing a key/value for each evaluation that we will add to the questions when we run the survey. EDSL provides methods for generating scenarios from many data sources (PDFs, CSVs, images, tables, dicts, etc.); here we import a list and match the key to our question texts placeholder:
[5]:
from edsl import ScenarioList
scenarios = ScenarioList.from_list("evaluation", evaluations)
Design AI agents
Next we design agents with relevant traits and personas for a language model to use in answering the questions. This can be useful if we want to compare responses among different audiences. We do this by passing dictionaries of traits to Agent objects. We can also choose whether to give an agent additional instructions for answering the survey (independent of individual question texts). Please see documentation for more details and example code for creating agents to use with
surveys.
Here we create a persona for the professor of the course and pass it some special instructions:
[6]:
from edsl import Agent
persona = "You are a professor reviewing student evaluations for your recent Econ 101 course."
instruction = "Be very specific and constructive in providing feedback and suggestions."
agent = Agent(traits={"persona": persona}, instruction=instruction)
Select language models
EDSL works with many popular language models that we can use to generate responses for our survey. We can see a current list of all available models:
[7]:
from edsl import Model
[8]:
# Model.available()
We select models to use with a survey by creating Model objects for them. The default model is GPT 4 Preview, meaning that EDSL will use it to run our survey if we do not specify a different model. Here’s we’ll specify that GPT 4o should be used:
[9]:
model = Model("gemini-1.5-flash")
model
[9]:
| key | value | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | model | gemini-1.5-flash |
| 1 | parameters:temperature | 0.500000 |
| 2 | parameters:topP | 1 |
| 3 | parameters:topK | 1 |
| 4 | parameters:maxOutputTokens | 2048 |
| 5 | parameters:stopSequences | [] |
| 6 | inference_service |
Run the survey
Next we add the scenarios and agent to the survey, and then run it with the specified model. This will generate a dataset of Results that we can store and begin analyzing:
[10]:
results = survey.by(scenarios).by(agent).by(model).run()
▼
Job Status (2025-03-03 08:17:03)
| Job UUID | d4b35fba-0d83-4e62-91ed-3e56c68c36b0 |
| Progress Bar URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/d4b35fba-0d83-4e62-91ed-3e56c68c36b0 |
| Exceptions Report URL | None |
| Results UUID | 44ff119b-5d58-4b7b-b622-be758709e1e0 |
| Results URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/44ff119b-5d58-4b7b-b622-be758709e1e0 |
✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/44ff119b-5d58-4b7b-b622-be758709e1e0
Analyzing results
EDSL comes with built-in methods for analyzing results in data tables, dataframes, SQL queries and other formats. We can print a list of all the components that can be accessed:
[11]:
results.columns
[11]:
| 0 | |
|---|---|
| 0 | agent.agent_index |
| 1 | agent.agent_instruction |
| 2 | agent.agent_name |
| 3 | agent.persona |
| 4 | answer.improvements |
| 5 | answer.sentiment |
| 6 | answer.themes |
| 7 | cache_keys.improvements_cache_key |
| 8 | cache_keys.sentiment_cache_key |
| 9 | cache_keys.themes_cache_key |
| 10 | cache_used.improvements_cache_used |
| 11 | cache_used.sentiment_cache_used |
| 12 | cache_used.themes_cache_used |
| 13 | comment.improvements_comment |
| 14 | comment.sentiment_comment |
| 15 | comment.themes_comment |
| 16 | generated_tokens.improvements_generated_tokens |
| 17 | generated_tokens.sentiment_generated_tokens |
| 18 | generated_tokens.themes_generated_tokens |
| 19 | iteration.iteration |
| 20 | model.inference_service |
| 21 | model.maxOutputTokens |
| 22 | model.model |
| 23 | model.model_index |
| 24 | model.stopSequences |
| 25 | model.temperature |
| 26 | model.topK |
| 27 | model.topP |
| 28 | prompt.improvements_system_prompt |
| 29 | prompt.improvements_user_prompt |
| 30 | prompt.sentiment_system_prompt |
| 31 | prompt.sentiment_user_prompt |
| 32 | prompt.themes_system_prompt |
| 33 | prompt.themes_user_prompt |
| 34 | question_options.improvements_question_options |
| 35 | question_options.sentiment_question_options |
| 36 | question_options.themes_question_options |
| 37 | question_text.improvements_question_text |
| 38 | question_text.sentiment_question_text |
| 39 | question_text.themes_question_text |
| 40 | question_type.improvements_question_type |
| 41 | question_type.sentiment_question_type |
| 42 | question_type.themes_question_type |
| 43 | raw_model_response.improvements_cost |
| 44 | raw_model_response.improvements_one_usd_buys |
| 45 | raw_model_response.improvements_raw_model_response |
| 46 | raw_model_response.sentiment_cost |
| 47 | raw_model_response.sentiment_one_usd_buys |
| 48 | raw_model_response.sentiment_raw_model_response |
| 49 | raw_model_response.themes_cost |
| 50 | raw_model_response.themes_one_usd_buys |
| 51 | raw_model_response.themes_raw_model_response |
| 52 | scenario.evaluation |
| 53 | scenario.scenario_index |
Here we select just the responses to the questions and display them in a table:
[12]:
results.select("sentiment", "themes", "themes_generated_tokens", "improvements")
[12]:
| answer.sentiment | answer.themes | generated_tokens.themes_generated_tokens | answer.improvements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Positive | ['Engaging and informative course content', 'Effective explanation of complex concepts', 'Fast pace and challenging readings'] | ["Engaging and informative course content", "Effective explanation of complex concepts", "Fast pace and challenging readings"] The summary focuses on the student's main points: positive feedback on engagement and clarity, and constructive criticism regarding the pace. This is concise and addresses both strengths and weaknesses. | ['Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate more in-class activities to reinforce concepts', 'Provide more structured guidance on readings, perhaps with suggested pacing or key concepts to focus on', 'Consider offering supplemental resources such as online tutorials or practice problems to support student learning'] |
| 1 | Negative | ['Student found the material dry and difficult', 'Lack of real-world connection and examples cited', 'Desire for more current event examples to increase engagement'] | ["Student found the material dry and difficult", "Lack of real-world connection and examples cited", "Desire for more current event examples to increase engagement"] The student's feedback clearly highlights three key areas: difficulty with the material's dryness, a need for better real-world application, and a specific suggestion for using current events to improve engagement. These points are concise and address the core concerns expressed. | ['Incorporate more real-world examples and case studies', 'Connect course material to current events', 'Develop more engaging teaching methods to enhance student interest'] |
| 2 | Positive | ['Enthusiastic and helpful professor', 'Engaging and interactive lectures', 'Practical and digestible assignments'] | ["Enthusiastic and helpful professor", "Engaging and interactive lectures", "Practical and digestible assignments"] The student highlighted three key strengths: the professor's positive attitude and availability, the lecture style, and the nature of the assignments. These are the most concise and impactful points for summarizing the feedback. | ['Consider incorporating more diverse teaching methods to cater to various learning styles', 'Explore opportunities to integrate current economic events into lectures for enhanced relevance', 'Evaluate the assessment methods to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of student understanding'] |
| 3 | Neutral | ['Appreciated analytical rigor', 'Desired more real-world application discussions', 'Felt disconnect between theory and practice'] | ["Appreciated analytical rigor", "Desired more real-world application discussions", "Felt disconnect between theory and practice"] The student's evaluation highlights both positive and negative aspects. The first point captures the student's appreciation for the mathematical strength of the course. The second and third points address the student's main concern: a perceived lack of connection between the theoretical concepts and their practical relevance. These three points concisely summarize the core message of the evaluation. | ['Incorporate real-world case studies into lectures', 'Facilitate more in-class discussions relating theoretical concepts to current events', 'Develop supplementary materials (e.g., articles, videos) illustrating practical applications of economic theories'] |
| 4 | Positive | ['Positive experience with group projects and real-world application', 'Desire for more detailed assignment feedback', 'Overall enjoyment of the course'] | ["Positive experience with group projects and real-world application", "Desire for more detailed assignment feedback", "Overall enjoyment of the course"] The student enjoyed the course and its practical application but wants more thorough feedback on assignments. These three points capture the essence of the evaluation concisely. | ['Enhance feedback detail on assignments', 'Explore alternative assessment methods to supplement group projects', 'Consider incorporating more diverse real-life case studies'] |
| 5 | Neutral | ['Well-organized course content', 'Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures', 'Suggestions for visual aids and guest lecturers'] | ["Well-organized course content", "Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures", "Suggestions for visual aids and guest lecturers"] The three points accurately reflect the student's main criticisms and suggestions, concisely summarizing the evaluation. | ['Incorporate more visual aids into lectures', 'Consider inviting guest lecturers from the industry', 'Review lecture delivery to enhance engagement and clarity'] |
| 6 | Positive | ['Enjoyed the balance of theory and case studies', 'Exams perceived as fair', 'Appreciated diverse perspectives on global economic policies'] | ["Enjoyed the balance of theory and case studies", "Exams perceived as fair", "Appreciated diverse perspectives on global economic policies"] The student highlights three distinct aspects of the course: the pedagogical approach (theory and case studies), assessment (fair exams), and content (global policy diversity). These are concise and represent the core positive feedback. | ['Increase quantitative problem sets', 'Incorporate more interactive learning activities', 'Explore current events more explicitly'] |
| 7 | Negative | ['Textbook complexity', 'Uneven lecture-textbook integration', 'Suggestion for simpler materials or enhanced lectures'] | ["Textbook complexity", "Uneven lecture-textbook integration", "Suggestion for simpler materials or enhanced lectures"] The student clearly identifies textbook complexity and jargon as major obstacles, highlighting a disconnect between lectures and the textbook's content. The suggestion for improvement directly addresses these issues. | ['Simplify textbook selection or supplement with clearer introductory materials', 'Incorporate more definitions and explanations of jargon in lectures', 'Designate specific lecture time for clarifying complex textbook concepts'] |
| 8 | Neutral | ["Professor's strong subject knowledge and passion were evident", 'Over-reliance on testing as assessment method', 'Need for diverse assignment types to cater to varied learning styles'] | ["Professor's strong subject knowledge and passion were evident", "Over-reliance on testing as assessment method", "Need for diverse assignment types to cater to varied learning styles"] The summary accurately reflects the student's main points without unnecessary detail, focusing on the core strengths and weaknesses highlighted in the evaluation. | ['Incorporate more diverse assessment methods (e.g., group projects, presentations, essays) to cater to varied learning styles.', 'Reduce over-reliance on high-stakes testing by incorporating lower-stakes assignments that allow for more frequent feedback and practice.', 'Explore alternative assessment formats such as problem-solving exercises or case studies to complement traditional testing.'] |
| 9 | Neutral | ["Positive assessment of the course's introductory nature", 'Critique of the overemphasis on theory', 'Suggestion for increased real-world application discussions'] | ["Positive assessment of the course's introductory nature", "Critique of the overemphasis on theory", "Suggestion for increased real-world application discussions"] The three points accurately reflect the student's main concerns and suggestions, concisely summarizing the evaluation. | ['Incorporate more case studies illustrating real-world applications of economic theories', 'Develop in-class activities or assignments that directly connect theoretical concepts to current events or policy debates', 'Increase opportunities for student-led discussions focusing on the practical implications of economic models'] |
We can do a quick tally of the sentiments:
[13]:
results.select("sentiment").tally()
[13]:
| answer.sentiment | count | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Positive | 4 |
| 1 | Neutral | 4 |
| 2 | Negative | 2 |
We can also transform the results into a dataframe:
[14]:
df = results.to_pandas()
df.head()
[14]:
| answer.sentiment | answer.themes | answer.improvements | scenario.evaluation | scenario.scenario_index | agent.agent_name | agent.agent_index | agent.agent_instruction | agent.persona | model.topK | ... | comment.themes_comment | generated_tokens.themes_generated_tokens | generated_tokens.sentiment_generated_tokens | generated_tokens.improvements_generated_tokens | cache_used.improvements_cache_used | cache_used.sentiment_cache_used | cache_used.themes_cache_used | cache_keys.themes_cache_key | cache_keys.improvements_cache_key | cache_keys.sentiment_cache_key | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Positive | ['Engaging and informative course content', 'E... | ['Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate ... | I found the course very engaging and informati... | 0 | Agent_0 | 0 | Be very specific and constructive in providing... | You are a professor reviewing student evaluati... | 1 | ... | The summary focuses on the student's main poin... | ["Engaging and informative course content", "E... | Positive\n\nThe student clearly expresses over... | ["Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate ... | True | True | True | 4cc05ab07126f12c0286e8d4017ee4e9 | 045a6cd433b9f8a594e69c16650dc906 | e87ac1ab46560676c8556b25de720b5b |
| 1 | Negative | ['Student found the material dry and difficult... | ['Incorporate more real-world examples and cas... | This class was a struggle for me. The material... | 1 | Agent_1 | 0 | Be very specific and constructive in providing... | You are a professor reviewing student evaluati... | 1 | ... | The student's feedback clearly highlights thre... | ["Student found the material dry and difficult... | Negative\n\nThe student explicitly states the ... | ["Incorporate more real-world examples and cas... | True | True | True | 7e35a3d2becc5f4fe912e97490c496ce | c9a6ea81091088296924b083c0f5277e | fae9b208b15d5716d7cf557f161b1da1 |
| 2 | Positive | ['Enthusiastic and helpful professor', 'Engagi... | ['Consider incorporating more diverse teaching... | Excellent introductory course! The professor w... | 2 | Agent_2 | 0 | Be very specific and constructive in providing... | You are a professor reviewing student evaluati... | 1 | ... | The student highlighted three key strengths: t... | ["Enthusiastic and helpful professor", "Engagi... | Positive\n\nThe evaluation contains overwhelmi... | ["Consider incorporating more diverse teaching... | True | True | True | 13432bad75496e0aebe8a06ba32a4550 | 22262c2d5bb750a06b3707026b3bdee3 | 1ac91057e39cf9900951ee30cc7928fe |
| 3 | Neutral | ['Appreciated analytical rigor', 'Desired more... | ['Incorporate real-world case studies into lec... | As someone with a strong background in math, I... | 3 | Agent_3 | 0 | Be very specific and constructive in providing... | You are a professor reviewing student evaluati... | 1 | ... | The student's evaluation highlights both posit... | ["Appreciated analytical rigor", "Desired more... | Neutral\n\nThe evaluation contains both positi... | ["Incorporate real-world case studies into lec... | True | True | True | 45750924adf6ee05ff3fb690a17b0f49 | c093f46806b11c1a6f3bb185458ca959 | 265dbbf39a6f044e3d9ac8879834a0a5 |
| 4 | Positive | ['Positive experience with group projects and ... | ['Enhance feedback detail on assignments', 'Ex... | I enjoyed the course, especially the group pro... | 4 | Agent_4 | 0 | Be very specific and constructive in providing... | You are a professor reviewing student evaluati... | 1 | ... | The student enjoyed the course and its practic... | ["Positive experience with group projects and ... | Positive\n\nThe student clearly enjoyed the co... | ["Enhance feedback detail on assignments", "Ex... | True | True | True | c5d6a3a504fbb6afb1c48f60981619a2 | 5dabf9b39b444bd678989962dbe91e65 | 957ab53fb4cae05d4e89dc02cda69b43 |
5 rows × 54 columns
We can also use pandas methods by first converting:
[15]:
df_sentiment = results.to_pandas()["answer.sentiment"]
df_sentiment.value_counts()
[15]:
answer.sentiment
Positive 4
Neutral 4
Negative 2
Name: count, dtype: int64
Use responses to construct new questions
We can use the responses to our initial questions to construct more questions about the texts. For example, we can prompt a model to condense the individual lists of themes and areas for improvement into short lists, and then use the new lists to quantify the topics across the set of evaluations.
Here we take the lists of themes in each evaluation, flatten them into a (duplicative) list, and then create a new question prompting a model to condense it for us:
[16]:
results.select("themes", "themes_generated_tokens")
[16]:
| answer.themes | generated_tokens.themes_generated_tokens | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ['Engaging and informative course content', 'Effective explanation of complex concepts', 'Fast pace and challenging readings'] | ["Engaging and informative course content", "Effective explanation of complex concepts", "Fast pace and challenging readings"] The summary focuses on the student's main points: positive feedback on engagement and clarity, and constructive criticism regarding the pace. This is concise and addresses both strengths and weaknesses. |
| 1 | ['Student found the material dry and difficult', 'Lack of real-world connection and examples cited', 'Desire for more current event examples to increase engagement'] | ["Student found the material dry and difficult", "Lack of real-world connection and examples cited", "Desire for more current event examples to increase engagement"] The student's feedback clearly highlights three key areas: difficulty with the material's dryness, a need for better real-world application, and a specific suggestion for using current events to improve engagement. These points are concise and address the core concerns expressed. |
| 2 | ['Enthusiastic and helpful professor', 'Engaging and interactive lectures', 'Practical and digestible assignments'] | ["Enthusiastic and helpful professor", "Engaging and interactive lectures", "Practical and digestible assignments"] The student highlighted three key strengths: the professor's positive attitude and availability, the lecture style, and the nature of the assignments. These are the most concise and impactful points for summarizing the feedback. |
| 3 | ['Appreciated analytical rigor', 'Desired more real-world application discussions', 'Felt disconnect between theory and practice'] | ["Appreciated analytical rigor", "Desired more real-world application discussions", "Felt disconnect between theory and practice"] The student's evaluation highlights both positive and negative aspects. The first point captures the student's appreciation for the mathematical strength of the course. The second and third points address the student's main concern: a perceived lack of connection between the theoretical concepts and their practical relevance. These three points concisely summarize the core message of the evaluation. |
| 4 | ['Positive experience with group projects and real-world application', 'Desire for more detailed assignment feedback', 'Overall enjoyment of the course'] | ["Positive experience with group projects and real-world application", "Desire for more detailed assignment feedback", "Overall enjoyment of the course"] The student enjoyed the course and its practical application but wants more thorough feedback on assignments. These three points capture the essence of the evaluation concisely. |
| 5 | ['Well-organized course content', 'Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures', 'Suggestions for visual aids and guest lecturers'] | ["Well-organized course content", "Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures", "Suggestions for visual aids and guest lecturers"] The three points accurately reflect the student's main criticisms and suggestions, concisely summarizing the evaluation. |
| 6 | ['Enjoyed the balance of theory and case studies', 'Exams perceived as fair', 'Appreciated diverse perspectives on global economic policies'] | ["Enjoyed the balance of theory and case studies", "Exams perceived as fair", "Appreciated diverse perspectives on global economic policies"] The student highlights three distinct aspects of the course: the pedagogical approach (theory and case studies), assessment (fair exams), and content (global policy diversity). These are concise and represent the core positive feedback. |
| 7 | ['Textbook complexity', 'Uneven lecture-textbook integration', 'Suggestion for simpler materials or enhanced lectures'] | ["Textbook complexity", "Uneven lecture-textbook integration", "Suggestion for simpler materials or enhanced lectures"] The student clearly identifies textbook complexity and jargon as major obstacles, highlighting a disconnect between lectures and the textbook's content. The suggestion for improvement directly addresses these issues. |
| 8 | ["Professor's strong subject knowledge and passion were evident", 'Over-reliance on testing as assessment method', 'Need for diverse assignment types to cater to varied learning styles'] | ["Professor's strong subject knowledge and passion were evident", "Over-reliance on testing as assessment method", "Need for diverse assignment types to cater to varied learning styles"] The summary accurately reflects the student's main points without unnecessary detail, focusing on the core strengths and weaknesses highlighted in the evaluation. |
| 9 | ["Positive assessment of the course's introductory nature", 'Critique of the overemphasis on theory', 'Suggestion for increased real-world application discussions'] | ["Positive assessment of the course's introductory nature", "Critique of the overemphasis on theory", "Suggestion for increased real-world application discussions"] The three points accurately reflect the student's main concerns and suggestions, concisely summarizing the evaluation. |
[17]:
themes = results.select("themes").to_list(flatten = True)
Next we construct a question to condense the list into a new list:
[18]:
q_condensed_themes = QuestionList(
question_name="condensed_themes",
question_text="""Combine the following list of themes extracted from the evaluations
into a consolidated, non-redundant list: """
+ ", ".join(themes),
max_list_items=10,
)
Now we run the question and select the new list. Note that we can choose whether we want to use the agent for this question by not adding it to the question when we run it:
[19]:
condensed_themes = q_condensed_themes.run().select("condensed_themes").to_list()[0]
condensed_themes
▼
Job Status (2025-03-03 08:17:22)
| Job UUID | 8a9f0856-15c4-4286-9cc2-45b9621822a3 |
| Progress Bar URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/8a9f0856-15c4-4286-9cc2-45b9621822a3 |
| Exceptions Report URL | None |
| Results UUID | 51ededf3-1da4-49f8-82f0-8267819c8ff1 |
| Results URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/51ededf3-1da4-49f8-82f0-8267819c8ff1 |
✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/51ededf3-1da4-49f8-82f0-8267819c8ff1
[19]:
['Engaging and informative content',
'Effective explanation of complex concepts',
'Need for real-world connections and examples',
'Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor',
'Desire for more detailed and diverse feedback',
'Engaging and interactive lectures',
'Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives',
'Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures',
'Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids',
'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing']
Now we can create a question to identify all the themes in the list that appear in each evaluation (our new list becomes the list of answer options):
[20]:
from edsl import QuestionCheckBox
q_themes_list = QuestionCheckBox(
question_name="themes_list",
question_text="Select all of the themes that are mentioned in this evaluation: {{ scenario.evaluation }}",
question_options=condensed_themes,
)
Here we run the question and show a table listing all the themes for each evaluation in the results:
[21]:
themes_lists = q_themes_list.by(scenarios).by(agent).run()
themes_lists.select("evaluation", "themes_list")
▼
Job Status (2025-03-03 08:17:32)
| Job UUID | 452609fa-214c-4c0e-8d82-ff83fa98c875 |
| Progress Bar URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/452609fa-214c-4c0e-8d82-ff83fa98c875 |
| Exceptions Report URL | None |
| Results UUID | 2731e5a9-566c-4678-a0db-161cfa89c10e |
| Results URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/2731e5a9-566c-4678-a0db-161cfa89c10e |
✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/2731e5a9-566c-4678-a0db-161cfa89c10e
[21]:
| scenario.evaluation | answer.themes_list | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | I found the course very engaging and informative. The professor did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts, making them accessible to those of us new to economics. However, the pace was a bit fast, and I sometimes struggled to keep up with the weekly readings. | ['Engaging and informative content', 'Effective explanation of complex concepts'] |
| 1 | This class was a struggle for me. The material felt dry and difficult to connect with real-world applications, which I think could have made it more interesting. More examples from current events would definitely have helped spark my interest. | ['Need for real-world connections and examples', 'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing'] |
| 2 | Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging. | ['Engaging and informative content', 'Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor', 'Engaging and interactive lectures'] |
| 3 | As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times. | ['Need for real-world connections and examples', 'Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives', 'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing'] |
| 4 | I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes. | ['Engaging and informative content', 'Need for real-world connections and examples', 'Desire for more detailed and diverse feedback'] |
| 5 | The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions. | ['Need for real-world connections and examples', 'Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures', 'Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids'] |
| 6 | This was my favorite class this semester! The mix of theory and case studies was perfect, and the exams were fair. I also really appreciated the diversity of perspectives we explored in class, especially in terms of global economic policies. | ['Engaging and informative content', 'Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives'] |
| 7 | I found the textbook to be overly complex for an introductory course. It often used jargon that hadn't been explained in lectures, which was confusing. Simpler reading materials or more explanatory lectures would make a big difference for newcomers to economics. | ['Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids', 'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing'] |
| 8 | The professor was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about economics, but I felt the course relied too heavily on tests rather than more creative forms of assessment. More varied assignments would make the course more accessible to students with different learning styles. | ['Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor', 'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing'] |
| 9 | This class was a solid introduction to economics, though it leaned heavily on theoretical aspects. I would have liked more opportunities to discuss the real-world implications of economic theories, which I believe would enhance understanding and retention of the material. | ['Need for real-world connections and examples', 'Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing'] |
[22]:
wide_evaluation_themes = themes_lists.select("evaluation", "themes_list").to_scenario_list().expand("themes_list").rename({"themes_list": "theme"})
wide_evaluation_themes
[22]:
ScenarioList scenarios: 24; keys: ['theme', 'evaluation'];
| evaluation | theme | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | I found the course very engaging and informative. The professor did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts, making them accessible to those of us new to economics. However, the pace was a bit fast, and I sometimes struggled to keep up with the weekly readings. | Engaging and informative content |
| 1 | I found the course very engaging and informative. The professor did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts, making them accessible to those of us new to economics. However, the pace was a bit fast, and I sometimes struggled to keep up with the weekly readings. | Effective explanation of complex concepts |
| 2 | This class was a struggle for me. The material felt dry and difficult to connect with real-world applications, which I think could have made it more interesting. More examples from current events would definitely have helped spark my interest. | Need for real-world connections and examples |
| 3 | This class was a struggle for me. The material felt dry and difficult to connect with real-world applications, which I think could have made it more interesting. More examples from current events would definitely have helped spark my interest. | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing |
| 4 | Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging. | Engaging and informative content |
| 5 | Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging. | Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor |
| 6 | Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging. | Engaging and interactive lectures |
| 7 | As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times. | Need for real-world connections and examples |
| 8 | As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times. | Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives |
| 9 | As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times. | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing |
| 10 | I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes. | Engaging and informative content |
| 11 | I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes. | Need for real-world connections and examples |
| 12 | I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes. | Desire for more detailed and diverse feedback |
| 13 | The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions. | Need for real-world connections and examples |
| 14 | The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions. | Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures |
| 15 | The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions. | Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids |
| 16 | This was my favorite class this semester! The mix of theory and case studies was perfect, and the exams were fair. I also really appreciated the diversity of perspectives we explored in class, especially in terms of global economic policies. | Engaging and informative content |
| 17 | This was my favorite class this semester! The mix of theory and case studies was perfect, and the exams were fair. I also really appreciated the diversity of perspectives we explored in class, especially in terms of global economic policies. | Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives |
| 18 | I found the textbook to be overly complex for an introductory course. It often used jargon that hadn't been explained in lectures, which was confusing. Simpler reading materials or more explanatory lectures would make a big difference for newcomers to economics. | Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids |
| 19 | I found the textbook to be overly complex for an introductory course. It often used jargon that hadn't been explained in lectures, which was confusing. Simpler reading materials or more explanatory lectures would make a big difference for newcomers to economics. | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing |
| 20 | The professor was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about economics, but I felt the course relied too heavily on tests rather than more creative forms of assessment. More varied assignments would make the course more accessible to students with different learning styles. | Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor |
| 21 | The professor was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about economics, but I felt the course relied too heavily on tests rather than more creative forms of assessment. More varied assignments would make the course more accessible to students with different learning styles. | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing |
| 22 | This class was a solid introduction to economics, though it leaned heavily on theoretical aspects. I would have liked more opportunities to discuss the real-world implications of economic theories, which I believe would enhance understanding and retention of the material. | Need for real-world connections and examples |
| 23 | This class was a solid introduction to economics, though it leaned heavily on theoretical aspects. I would have liked more opportunities to discuss the real-world implications of economic theories, which I believe would enhance understanding and retention of the material. | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing |
[23]:
wide_evaluation_themes.tally("theme")
[23]:
| theme | count | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Need for real-world connections and examples | 5 |
| 1 | Critique of overemphasis on theory and testing | 5 |
| 2 | Engaging and informative content | 4 |
| 3 | Enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor | 2 |
| 4 | Appreciated analytical rigor and diverse perspectives | 2 |
| 5 | Suggestions for improved materials and visual aids | 2 |
| 6 | Effective explanation of complex concepts | 1 |
| 7 | Engaging and interactive lectures | 1 |
| 8 | Desire for more detailed and diverse feedback | 1 |
| 9 | Monotonous and hard-to-follow lectures | 1 |
We can do the same thing with the areas of improvement:
[24]:
improvements = results.select("improvements").to_list(flatten=True)
improvements
[24]:
['Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate more in-class activities to reinforce concepts',
'Provide more structured guidance on readings, perhaps with suggested pacing or key concepts to focus on',
'Consider offering supplemental resources such as online tutorials or practice problems to support student learning',
'Incorporate more real-world examples and case studies',
'Connect course material to current events',
'Develop more engaging teaching methods to enhance student interest',
'Consider incorporating more diverse teaching methods to cater to various learning styles',
'Explore opportunities to integrate current economic events into lectures for enhanced relevance',
'Evaluate the assessment methods to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of student understanding',
'Incorporate real-world case studies into lectures',
'Facilitate more in-class discussions relating theoretical concepts to current events',
'Develop supplementary materials (e.g., articles, videos) illustrating practical applications of economic theories',
'Enhance feedback detail on assignments',
'Explore alternative assessment methods to supplement group projects',
'Consider incorporating more diverse real-life case studies',
'Incorporate more visual aids into lectures',
'Consider inviting guest lecturers from the industry',
'Review lecture delivery to enhance engagement and clarity',
'Increase quantitative problem sets',
'Incorporate more interactive learning activities',
'Explore current events more explicitly',
'Simplify textbook selection or supplement with clearer introductory materials',
'Incorporate more definitions and explanations of jargon in lectures',
'Designate specific lecture time for clarifying complex textbook concepts',
'Incorporate more diverse assessment methods (e.g., group projects, presentations, essays) to cater to varied learning styles.',
'Reduce over-reliance on high-stakes testing by incorporating lower-stakes assignments that allow for more frequent feedback and practice.',
'Explore alternative assessment formats such as problem-solving exercises or case studies to complement traditional testing.',
'Incorporate more case studies illustrating real-world applications of economic theories',
'Develop in-class activities or assignments that directly connect theoretical concepts to current events or policy debates',
'Increase opportunities for student-led discussions focusing on the practical implications of economic models']
[25]:
q_condensed_improvements = QuestionList(
question_name="condensed_improvements",
question_text="""Combine the following list of areas for improvement from the evaluations
into a consolidated, non-redundant list: """
+ ", ".join(improvements),
max_list_items=10,
)
[26]:
condensed_improvements = (
q_condensed_improvements.run().select("condensed_improvements").to_list()[0]
)
condensed_improvements
▼
Job Status (2025-03-03 08:17:41)
| Job UUID | e1cc2f56-6080-4eff-bf08-0b7534f01391 |
| Progress Bar URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/e1cc2f56-6080-4eff-bf08-0b7534f01391 |
| Exceptions Report URL | None |
| Results UUID | d73a4c6e-8d6f-41c6-8336-ce33e3b32263 |
| Results URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/d73a4c6e-8d6f-41c6-8336-ce33e3b32263 |
✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/d73a4c6e-8d6f-41c6-8336-ce33e3b32263
[26]:
['Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate more interactive and engaging teaching methods',
'Provide structured guidance and supplemental resources for readings',
'Incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and current events into lectures',
'Explore diverse teaching methods and assessment formats to cater to various learning styles',
'Enhance feedback on assignments and explore alternative assessment methods',
'Increase opportunities for student-led discussions and in-class activities',
'Incorporate more visual aids and guest lecturers to enhance engagement',
'Connect theoretical concepts to practical implications and policy debates',
'Simplify textbook selection and provide clearer explanations of complex concepts',
'Reduce reliance on high-stakes testing by incorporating varied, lower-stakes assignments']
[27]:
q_improvements_list = QuestionCheckBox(
question_name="improvements_list",
question_text="Select all of the improvements that are mentioned in this evaluation: {{ evaluation }}",
question_options=condensed_improvements,
)
[28]:
improvements_lists = q_improvements_list.by(scenarios).by(agent).run()
improvements_lists.select("evaluation", "improvements_list")
▼
Job Status (2025-03-03 08:17:51)
| Job UUID | 218d7d59-bf14-4484-94fd-3a2e63df9ee3 |
| Progress Bar URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/home/remote-job-progress/218d7d59-bf14-4484-94fd-3a2e63df9ee3 |
| Exceptions Report URL | None |
| Results UUID | 5dd6f70b-b926-4b17-879c-e67108d411d6 |
| Results URL | https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/5dd6f70b-b926-4b17-879c-e67108d411d6 |
✓Current Status: Job completed and Results stored on Coop: https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/5dd6f70b-b926-4b17-879c-e67108d411d6
[28]:
| scenario.evaluation | answer.improvements_list | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | I found the course very engaging and informative. The professor did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts, making them accessible to those of us new to economics. However, the pace was a bit fast, and I sometimes struggled to keep up with the weekly readings. | ['Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate more interactive and engaging teaching methods', 'Provide structured guidance and supplemental resources for readings'] |
| 1 | This class was a struggle for me. The material felt dry and difficult to connect with real-world applications, which I think could have made it more interesting. More examples from current events would definitely have helped spark my interest. | ['Incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and current events into lectures'] |
| 2 | Excellent introductory course! The professor was enthusiastic and always willing to offer extra help during office hours. The interactive lectures and the practical assignments made the theory much more digestible and engaging. | [] |
| 3 | As someone with a strong background in math, I appreciated the analytical rigor of this course. However, I wish there had been more discussions that connected the theories we learned to everyday economic issues. It felt a bit isolated from practical realities at times. | ['Incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and current events into lectures', 'Connect theoretical concepts to practical implications and policy debates'] |
| 4 | I enjoyed the course, especially the group projects, which were both challenging and rewarding. It was great to apply economic concepts to solve real-life problems. I did feel, however, that the feedback on assignments could be more detailed to help us understand our mistakes. | ['Enhance feedback on assignments and explore alternative assessment methods'] |
| 5 | The course content was well-organized, but the lectures were somewhat monotonous and hard to follow. I would suggest incorporating more visual aids and maybe some guest lectures from industry professionals to liven up the sessions. | ['Incorporate more visual aids and guest lecturers to enhance engagement'] |
| 6 | This was my favorite class this semester! The mix of theory and case studies was perfect, and the exams were fair. I also really appreciated the diversity of perspectives we explored in class, especially in terms of global economic policies. | [] |
| 7 | I found the textbook to be overly complex for an introductory course. It often used jargon that hadn't been explained in lectures, which was confusing. Simpler reading materials or more explanatory lectures would make a big difference for newcomers to economics. | ['Provide structured guidance and supplemental resources for readings', 'Simplify textbook selection and provide clearer explanations of complex concepts'] |
| 8 | The professor was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about economics, but I felt the course relied too heavily on tests rather than more creative forms of assessment. More varied assignments would make the course more accessible to students with different learning styles. | ['Explore diverse teaching methods and assessment formats to cater to various learning styles', 'Reduce reliance on high-stakes testing by incorporating varied, lower-stakes assignments'] |
| 9 | This class was a solid introduction to economics, though it leaned heavily on theoretical aspects. I would have liked more opportunities to discuss the real-world implications of economic theories, which I believe would enhance understanding and retention of the material. | ['Incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and current events into lectures', 'Connect theoretical concepts to practical implications and policy debates'] |
[29]:
wide_themes = (
improvements_lists
.select("evaluation", "improvements_list")
.to_scenario_list()
.expand("improvements_list")
.rename({"improvements_list": "theme"})
)
[30]:
wide_themes.tally("theme")
[30]:
| theme | count | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and current events into lectures | 3 |
| 1 | Provide structured guidance and supplemental resources for readings | 2 |
| 2 | Connect theoretical concepts to practical implications and policy debates | 2 |
| 3 | Adjust the pace of lectures and incorporate more interactive and engaging teaching methods | 1 |
| 4 | Enhance feedback on assignments and explore alternative assessment methods | 1 |
| 5 | Incorporate more visual aids and guest lecturers to enhance engagement | 1 |
| 6 | Simplify textbook selection and provide clearer explanations of complex concepts | 1 |
| 7 | Explore diverse teaching methods and assessment formats to cater to various learning styles | 1 |
| 8 | Reduce reliance on high-stakes testing by incorporating varied, lower-stakes assignments | 1 |
Other examples
Please check out the EDSL Docs for examples of other methods and templates for use cases, and join our Discord channel to ask questions and with other users!
Posting to the Coop
The Coop is a platform for creating, storing and sharing LLM-based research. It is fully integrated with EDSL and accessible from your workspace or Coop account page. Learn more about creating an account and using Coop.
We can post any EDSL object to the Coop by calling the push() method on it, including this notebook:
[31]:
from edsl import Notebook
nb = Notebook(path = "analyze_evaluations.ipynb")
if refresh := False:
nb.push(
description = "Example code for analyzing course evaluations",
alias = "course-evaluations-notebook",
visibility = "public"
)
else:
nb.patch("https://www.expectedparrot.com/content/RobinHorton/course-evaluations-notebook", value = nb)