Higher Education Research Institute Survey

Comparison of 1994 Freshman/1998 Senior Results

Nationwide many colleges and universities participate in the HERI studies. Houghton College and approximately 50 other Christian colleges are participating in this study as part of an ongoing FIPSE grant to help determine the impact Christian campuses make on the development of faith and values of their students.

Shortly after entering college the 1994 Houghton College freshmen were given a Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) survey. Then just before graduation, the 1998 Houghton College seniors were given a virtually identical survey. 77 of the seniors who completed the senior survey had also completed the freshman survey.

This report lists areas where the greatest changes were noted between the freshman and senior answers of those 77 Houghton College students.

The full report is available. If you wish read the entire report, contact Willis Beardsley (wbeardsley@houghton.edu) for a copy.

Objectives considered important or essential
Social views
Student rated self above average in:
Hours per week spent the past year doing:
Activities in the past year
Political orientation

Table 1
 
Objectives considered 
important or essential Freshman Senior Change Develop philosophy 
of life
46
76
30
Promote racial 
understanding
21
44
23
Help others in 
difficulty
76
90
14
Become authority 
in own field
34
46
12
Participate in 
community action
19
30
11
Be involved in 
environmental cleanup
1
10
9
Be very will off 
financially
20
9
-11
Raise a 
family
83
70
-13
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Table 2
 
Social views Freshman Senior Change Death penalty 
should be abolished
18
41
23
De-emphasize 
college sports
34
51
17
Federal government 
control sale of handguns
67
83
16
Government not 
controlling pollution
58
72
14
Racial discrimination 
not longer a problem
18
9
-9
Too much concern 
for criminals
80
71
-9
Raise taxes to reduce 
deficit
18
8
-10
Government not 
protecting consumer
57
44
-13
Control AIDS by 
mandatory tests
41
20
-21
Disobey laws that 
violate values
60
38
-22
Married woman best 
at home
31
8
-23
Prohibit homosexual 
relations
72
49
-23
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Table 3
 
Student rated self 
above average Freshman Senior Change Public Speaking 
ability
33
42
9
Understanding of 
others
70
78
8
Self-confidence 
(social)
34
42
8
Drive to achieve
74
64
-10
Emotional Health
68
60
-10
Academic ability
84
73
-11
Mathematical 
ability
49
30
-19




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Table 4
 
Hours per week spent 
the past year Freshman Senior Change Studying or doing 
homework over 10 hours
30
70
40
Socializing with 
friends over 10 hours
37
50
13
Partying less than 
2 hours
86
96
10
Exercising or Sports 
over 10 hours
46
11
-35
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Table 5
 




Activities in the 
past year Freshman Senior Change Was guest in 
teacher's/professor's 
home
36
90
54
Drank wine or liquor
16
43
27
Overslept and missed 
class/appointment
29
53
24
Visited museum or 
art gallery
61
83
22
Felt overwhelmed
20
42
22
Drank beer
8
21
13
Felt bored 
in class
27
13
-14
Discussed politics
23
9
-14
Participated in 
demonstrations
23
5
-18
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Table 6
 
Political 
orientation Freshman Senior Change Far left
0
0
0
Liberal
0
6
6
Middle of the 
road
19
33
14
Conservative
75
60
-15
Far right
6
1
-5
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