1997 Graduating Senior Survey: Outcomes of General Education

Graduating seniors were asked to rate the extent to which NC State had contributed to their development in terms of technical skills, established goals for undergraduate education, attitudes and values, and personal development. To measure impacts in these areas, a four-point scale was used (1=not at all, 2=very little, 3=moderately, and 4=very much). A "don't know" response was also provided. For all items in this section, respondents marking the "don't know" option were removed from analysis for that item. Less than 4% of respondents used the "don't know" option on any one item.

Technical Skills

Enhancing analytic skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.0
1.0
1.1
0.0
1.2
0.0
Very Little
5.6
5.6
5.7
3.7
5.5
9.3
Moderately
38.4
40.0
37.1
40.7
38.1
38.9
Very Much
55.0
53.5
56.1
55.6
55.2
51.9

Developing computer skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.5
1.9
1.2
0.0
1.7
0.0
Very Little
8.8
9.9
8.0
3.7
9.2
7.5
Moderately
31.1
31.4
30.9
33.3
31.0
30.2
Very Much
58.6
56.8
59.9
63.0
58.0
62.3

Comprehension skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.4
1.0
1.8
1.8
1.3
3.7
Very Little
10.2
9.4
10.8
10.9
9.7
18.5
Moderately
48.8
47.6
49.8
49.1
48.9
48.1
Very Much
39.6
42.0
37.6
38.2
40.2
29.6

Applying scientific methods of inquiry (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
2.2
2.9
1.4
0.0
2.2
1.9
Very Little
11.7
14.2
10.0
18.9
11.3
13.0
Moderately
36.5
36.3
36.6
26.4
36.9
38.9
Very Much
49.6
46.6
52.0
54.7
49.6
46.3

Listening skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.8
0.7
2.7
5.5
1.2
9.3
Very Little
15.0
14.7
15.2
14.5
15.5
7.4
Moderately
47.2
45.9
47.9
50.9
46.8
46.3
Very Much 36.038.6 34.229.136.5 37.0

Writing skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
3.2
2.6
3.5
3.6
3.2
1.9
Very Little
13.0
14.4
12.0
7.3
13.4
13.0
Moderately
47.5
44.2
49.9
40.0
48.9
33.3
Very Much
36.4
38.7
34.5
49.1
34.5
51.9

Speaking skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
2.0
1.9
2.1
1.8
2.1
1.9
Very Little
14.6
14.9
14.3
16.4
14.2
18.5
Moderately
42.3
42.5
42.4
34.5
43.1
40.7
Very Much
41.0
40.6
41.2
47.3
40.7
38.9

Using mathematics skills (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
2.8
3.6
2.1
1.9
2.9
1.9
Very Little
14.1
18.4
10.9
11.1
13.8
20.4
Moderately
36.1
38.7
34.2
27.8
37.1
27.8
Very Much
47.0
39.2
52.8
59.3
46.1
50.0
Gender: p<0.01

Technical Skills
N
Mean
STD.
Enhancing analytic skills
977
3.47
0.65
Developing computer skills
980
3.47
0.72
Comprehension skills
981
3.27
0.70
Applying scientific methods of inquiry
971
3.34
0.77
Listening skills
981
3.17
0.74
Writing skills
984
3.17
0.77
Speaking skills
985
3.22
0.77
Using mathematics skills
978
3.27
0.80


Goals for Undergraduate Education

Ability to critically analyze ideas & information (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.2
0.5
1.8
0.0
1.2
3.7
Very Little
6.1
4.8
7.1
7.3
6.0
7.4
Moderately
40.6
39.7
41.4
56.4
40.0
35.2
Very Much
52.0
55.0
49.7
36.4
52.9
53.7

Ability to plan & carry out projects independently (%) AllFemaleMale Af. Am.WhiteOther Min.
Not at all 1.60.7 2.31.81.4 5.6
Very Little 6.65.3 7.53.66.7 7.4
Moderately 35.331.0 38.645.535.1 29.6
Very Much 56.463.0 51.549.156.8 57.4
Gender: p<0.01

Ability to function as part of a team (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.4
1.0
1.8
0.0
1.5
1.9
Very Little
8.6
6.3
10.1
7.3
8.2
14.8
Moderately
36.8
33.5
39.5
40.0
37.0
33.3
Very Much
53.2
59.3
48.6
52.7
53.3
50.0
Gender: p<0.01

Appreciate learning as a lifelong process (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
3.0
1.9
3.8
3.7
2.7
7.4
Very Little
8.9
6.5
10.5
13.0
8.5
9.3
Moderately
32.6
26.9
36.9
33.3
32.9
27.8
Very Much
55.5
64.6
48.8
50.0
55.9
55.6
Gender: p<0.01

Understand how science & technology influence life (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.9
1.7
2.0
1.9
1.7
3.7
Very Little
9.6
10.3
9.0
9.4
9.8
5.6
Moderately
42.1
40.3
43.2
41.5
41.7
46.3
Very Much
46.5
47.7
45.9
47.2
46.7
44.4

Ability to lead or guide others (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
2.6
2.4
2.7
1.8
2.4
5.6
Very Little
12.7
11.1
14.1
14.5
12.3
18.5
Moderately
42.1
41.6
42.5
36.4
42.5
42.6
Very Much
42.6
45.0
40.7
47.3
42.8
33.3

Ability to work with diverse backgrounds (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
4.0
3.9
4.2
1.8
4.3
1.9
Very Little
14.7
12.6
16.2
16.4
14.4
18.5
Moderately
40.1
34.5
44.2
38.2
40.7
31.5
Very Much
41.2
49.0
35.4
43.6
40.6
48.1
Gender: p<0.01

Commitment to personal health and fitness (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
9.1
8.2
9.7
14.5
8.7
9.3
Very Little
22.2
20.0
24.0
10.9
23.3
16.7
Moderately
39.4
36.9
41.1
40.0
38.9
44.4
Very Much
29.3
34.9
25.2
34.5
29.0
29.6
Gender: p<0.01

Understand present as relates to history (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
7.7
8.6
7.1
9.4
7.3
14.0
Very Little
25.5
27.6
23.9
20.8
25.7
28.0
Moderately
43.5
42.5
44.1
47.2
43.4
40.0
Very Much
23.3
21.3
24.9
22.6
23.7
18.0

Established Goals for Undergraduate Education
N
Mean
STD.
Ability to critically analyze ideas/information
980
3.43
0.66
Ability to plan/carry out projects independently
978
3.47
0.69
Ability to function as part of a team
980
3.42
0.71
Appreciating learning as a lifelong process
969
3.41
0.77
Understand how science/tech. influence life
970
3.33
0.72
Ability to lead or guide others
974
3.25
0.77
Ability to work with diverse backgrounds
969
3.18
0.83
Commitment to personal health and fitness
973
2.89
0.93
Understand present as relates to history
959
2.82
0.88


Personal Development

Potential for success (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
2.6
1.4
3.4
1.8
2.2
9.3
Very Little
6.5
6.0
6.8
3.6
6.5
9.3
Moderately
39.1
36.1
41.3
40.0
39.2
35.2
Very Much
51.8
56.5
48.5
54.5
52.1
46.3
Gender: p<0.01

Independence and self-reliance (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
3.4
2.4
4.1
9.1
2.9
5.6
Very Little
9.6
7.2
11.5
9.1
9.7
9.3
Moderately
34.9
29.2
39.1
25.5
35.3
37.0
Very Much
52.1
61.2
45.2
56.4
52.0
48.1
Gender: p<0.01

Coping with change (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
3.7
3.1
4.1
9.1
3.1
7.4
Very Little
11.1
8.7
13.0
10.9
11.4
7.4
Moderately
40.8
35.7
44.7
41.8
40.4
46.3
Very Much
44.4
52.5
38.2
38.2
45.1
38.9
Gender: p<0.01

Self-confidence (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
4.5
3.8
5.0
9.1
4.1
7.4
Very Little
11.8
10.8
12.6
12.7
11.7
13.0
Moderately
43.5
40.9
45.6
45.5
43.4
44.4
Very Much
40.2
44.5
36.8
32.7
40.9
35.2

Sense of personal identity (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
5.5
5.6
5.4
9.1
5.0
9.4
Very Little
14.1
11.1
16.4
16.4
14.2
11.3
Moderately
39.6
33.8
43.6
41.8
39.3
39.6
Very Much
40.8
49.5
34.6
32.7
41.6
39.6
Gender: p<0.01

Ability to handle stress (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
7.0
6.0
7.8
9.1
6.9
7.4
Very Little
14.4
14.7
14.3
16.4
14.2
16.7
Moderately
38.0
36.1
39.4
36.4
38.1
37.0
Very Much
40.6
43.3
38.5
38.2
40.8
38.9


Personal Development
N
Mean
STD.
Potential for success
976
3.40
0.72
Independence and self-reliance
975
3.36
0.79
Coping with change
973
3.26
0.80
Self-confidence
976
3.19
0.81
Sense of personal identity
972
3.16
0.86
Ability to handle stress
980
3.12
0.90
Take responsibility for own behavior
972
3.17
0.93


Attitudes and Values

Develop a tolerance for divergent views (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
5.2
2.7
7.1
7.5
5.0
5.6
Very Little
16.5
13.7
18.4
17.0
16.7
11.1
Moderately
44.1
42.3
45.4
43.4
44.7
35.2
Very Much
34.2
41.3
29.1
32.1
33.6
48.1
Gender: p<0.01

Recognize/act upon ethical principles (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
5.9
4.2
7.2
10.9
5.5
7.5
Very Little
21.9
20.2
23.3
27.3
21.7
20.8
Moderately
42.7
42.2
42.8
32.7
43.5
37.7
Very Much
29.4
33.3
26.7
29.1
29.3
34.0
Gender: p<0.01

Understand diverse cultures and values (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
6.7
5.3
7.8
11.1
6.5
5.7
Very Little
24.1
19.7
27.3
24.1
24.6
15.1
Moderately
39.6
38.3
40.3
33.3
40.2
34.0
Very Much
29.6
36.7
24.6
31.5
28.7
45.3
Gender: p<0.01

Understand issues/problems facing world (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
6.3
4.6
7.4
10.9
5.5
13.2
Very Little
24.0
20.1
27.0
25.5
24.1
22.6
Moderately
42.8
45.8
40.5
41.8
43.0
39.6
Very Much
26.9
29.5
25.0
21.8
27.5
24.5
Gender: p<0.01

Appreciating racial and sexual equality (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
11.7
8.5
14.0
17.3
11.4
9.8
Very Little
24.9
21.4
27.4
28.8
24.4
27.5
Moderately
37.5
39.7
35.9
26.9
38.1
37.3
Very Much
26.0
30.4
22.7
26.9
26.0
25.5
Gender: p<0.01

Exercising public responsibility & community service (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
11.2
9.2
12.7
23.6
10.0
18.0
Very Little
27.3
25.3
28.6
10.9
28.1
30.0
Moderately
38.2
38.5
38.0
47.3
38.0
32.0
Very Much
23.3
27.0
20.7
18.2
23.9
20.0
Gender: p<0.01

Advancing your appreciation of the arts (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
18.7
17.1
20.0
16.7
18.3
28.3
Very Little
32.5
31.5
33.2
25.9
33.4
24.5
Moderately
29.8
30.1
29.5
33.3
29.3
34.0
Very Much
19.0
21.3
17.2
24.1
19.0
13.2

Taking responsibility for own behavior (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
7.4
7.8
7.2
11.1
7.3
5.6
Very Little
14.3
12.1
16.0
18.5
14.4
9.3
Moderately
32.0
26.0
36.3
42.6
30.4
44.4
Very Much
46.3
54.1
40.6
27.8
47.9
40.7
Gender: p<0.01

Attitudes and Values
N
Mean
STD.
Develop a tolerance for divergent views
965
3.07
0.84
Recognize/act upon ethical principles
962
2.96
0.87
Understand. diverse cultures and values
968
2.92
0.89
Understand issues/problems facing world
967
2.90
0.87
Appreciating racial and sexual equality
944
2.78
0.96
Exercising public resp./community svc.
948
2.74
0.94
Advancing your appreciation of the arts
957
2.49
1.00



Educational Outcomes

Coursework taught how to find information (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Disagree
0.1
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
Tend to Disagree
2.2
2.4
2.1
3.6
2.1
1.9
Neither A/D
6.1
7.1
5.5
9.1
5.5
13.5
Tend to Agree
46.8
45.2
48.1
56.4
46.6
40.4
Agree
44.8
45.2
44.4
30.9
45.6
44.2

Coursework increased ability to solve problems (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Disagree
0.4
0.0
0.7
0.0
0.3
1.9
Tend to Disagree
3.6
3.6
3.7
0.0
3.6
7.4
Neither A/D
8.8
8.6
8.9
12.7
8.7
5.6
Tend to Agree
44.1
47.5
41.9
56.4
43.3
48.1
Agree
43.0
40.4
44.9
30.9
44.1
37.0

How often read news (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.0
1.0
1.9
Seldom
8.8
11.6
6.8
21.4
8.2
5.6
Less than once a month
2.8
4.7
1.4
1.8
2.8
3.7
1 - 3 times/month
16.3
18.9
14.4
26.8
15.6
16.7
1 - 3 times/week
34.9
37.7
32.9
32.1
35.2
33.3
More than 3 times/week
36.2
26.2
43.5
17.9
37.1
38.9
Gender: p<0.01

How often read for leisure (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Not at all
3.6
2.1
4.7
5.4
3.7
0.0
Seldom
20.9
19.0
22.4
21.4
20.1
34.0
Less than once a month
11.2
12.3
10.5
14.3
10.6
18.9
1 - 3 times/month
19.7
19.9
19.6
19.6
20.0
15.1
1 - 3 times/week
22.8
24.2
21.5
23.2
22.9
18.9
More than 3 times/week
21.8
22.5
21.2
16.1
22.6
13.2

Made diverse friends (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Disagree
5.3
5.3
5.3
0.0
5.1
13.0
Tend to Disagree
8.0
9.4
7.1
7.4
8.2
5.6
Neither A/D
11.7
12.5
11.1
7.4
12.3
5.6
Tend to Agree
27.0
27.3
26.8
27.8
27.2
24.1
Agree
48.1
45.6
49.7
57.4
47.1
51.9

Foreign language course helped cultural appreciation (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Disagree
5.5
3.1
8.1
0.0
6.0
3.6
Tend to Disagree
9.9
12.4
7.3
12.5
10.4
0.0
Neither A/D
25.8
26.0
25.2
28.1
25.7
21.4
Tend to Agree
30.6
31.0
30.3
43.8
30.1
25.0
Agree
28.2
27.5
29.1
15.6
27.8
50.0

Intellectual growth needs met (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Poorly
0.6
0.2
0.9
0.0
0.3
5.6
Somewhat Adequately
5.8
5.0
6.3
9.1
5.4
7.4
Adequately
42.3
43.4
41.6
50.9
41.7
44.4
Very Well
51.3
51.4
51.2
40.0
52.5
42.6

Career training growth needs met (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Poorly
4.4
5.5
3.5
3.7
4.0
11.3
Somewhat Adequately
22.3
24.9
20.2
22.2
22.2
22.6
Adequately
45.4
43.9
46.5
51.9
45.4
39.6
Very Well
27.9
25.7
29.8
22.2
28.5
26.4

Personal growth needs met (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
Poorly
2.6
2.4
2.6
3.7
2.3
5.7
Somewhat Adequately
12.1
11.2
12.9
18.5
11.7
13.2
Adequately
41.0
39.7
42.1
42.6
40.9
41.5
Very Well
44.3
46.8
42.4
35.2
45.1
39.6

Physical Education requirement (%)
All
Female
Male
Af. Am.
White
Other Min.
2 courses (2 credit hrs)
1.1
1.9
0.5
0.0
1.0
2.9
3 courses (3 credit hrs)
19.2
24.9
15.6
29.4
18.7
17.1
4 courses (4 credit hrs)
53.2
50.2
55.1
55.9
53.8
40.0
More than 4 courses
9.3
4.7
12.3
0.0
9.9
8.6
Not at all
17.1
18.3
16.5
14.7
16.5
31.4
Gender: p<0.01