diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fe30d98..de07633 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+HEAD
+----
+
+- new option added: `triggerChange`
+
 1.2.2
 -----
 
diff --git a/examples/index.html b/examples/index.html
index a1163c1..183cfe4 100755
--- a/examples/index.html
+++ b/examples/index.html
@@ -386,6 +386,10 @@ <h1>How about star ratings?</h1>
               <strong>silent: false</strong><br>
               Supress callbacks when controlling ratings programatically.
             </p>
+            <p>
+              <strong>triggerChange: true</strong><br>
+              Trigger change event on the select field when ratings are set or reset.
+            </p>
           </div>
         </div>
 
diff --git a/jquery.barrating.js b/jquery.barrating.js
index da88d4a..297a851 100644
--- a/jquery.barrating.js
+++ b/jquery.barrating.js
@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@
                 // change selected option
                 findOption(value).prop('selected', true);
 
-                self.$elem.change();
+                if (getData('userOptions').triggerChange) {
+                    self.$elem.change();
+                }
             };
 
             // reset select field
@@ -222,7 +224,9 @@
                     return this.defaultSelected;
                 });
 
-                self.$elem.change();
+                if (getData('userOptions').triggerChange) {
+                    self.$elem.change();
+                }
             };
 
             // display the currently selected rating
@@ -572,6 +576,7 @@
         fastClicks:true, // remove 300ms click delay on touch devices?
         hoverState:true, // change state on hover?
         silent:false, // supress callbacks when controlling ratings programatically
+        triggerChange:true, // trigger change event when ratings are set or reset
         onSelect:function (value, text, event) {
         }, // callback fired when a rating is selected
         onClear:function (value, text) {
diff --git a/test/jquery.barrating-spec.js b/test/jquery.barrating-spec.js
index 90fe3e2..6f9418b 100644
--- a/test/jquery.barrating-spec.js
+++ b/test/jquery.barrating-spec.js
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ describe('bar rating plugin on init with custom options', function () {
         expect(BarRating.options.fastClicks).to.equal(true);
         expect(BarRating.options.hoverState).to.equal(true);
         expect(BarRating.options.silent).to.equal(false);
+        expect(BarRating.options.triggerChange).to.equal(true);
     });
 
 });
@@ -417,10 +418,15 @@ describe('bar rating plugin on destroy', function () {
 describe('bar rating plugin on set value', function () {
 
     var valuesFromCallback = [];
+    var changeCount = 0;
 
     before(function () {
         createSelect();
 
+        $('#rating').change(function () {
+            changeCount++;
+        });
+
         $('#rating').barrating('show', {
             onSelect:function (value, text) {
                 valuesFromCallback.push(value, text);
@@ -448,6 +454,10 @@ describe('bar rating plugin on set value', function () {
         expect(valuesFromCallback[1]).to.equal('rating-text-3');
     });
 
+    it('should trigger change event on the select field', function () {
+        expect(changeCount).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
 });