North Carolina State University
Sophomore Student Survey Trends, 1998-2008:
Frequency Distributions for Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development

Note: Due to a change in response option order for these items, the following tables do not present results from 2008. For 2008 results for these items, see the 2008 Sophomore Survey: All Respondents report.

Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development

Contrib: Writing skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	32.5%	30.6%	32.3%	31.8%	30.5%	37.0%
3: Somewhat	50.3%	52.5%	49.2%	51.3%	52.1%	47.9%
1: Not at all	3.5%	3.0%	2.8%	3.3%	3.9%	2.9%
2: Very Little	13.7%	13.9%	15.7%	13.6%	13.5%	12.1%
Total N	1,092	1,151	1,330	1,540	1,183	1,424

Contrib: Speaking skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	26.5%	30.0%	27.9%	29.5%	27.2%	31.8%
3: Somewhat	44.1%	43.5%	45.0%	44.9%	49.0%	46.3%
1: Not at all	7.5%	5.6%	7.3%	5.7%	4.6%	4.3%
2: Very Little	22.0%	20.9%	19.9%	19.9%	19.2%	17.7%
Total N	1,069	1,136	1,309	1,528	1,170	1,414

Contrib: Listening skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	39.6%	40.6%	41.2%	43.2%	43.8%	44.1%
3: Somewhat	45.5%	47.2%	45.1%	43.1%	44.1%	44.1%
1: Not at all	3.5%	2.4%	3.2%	3.3%	2.1%	2.8%
2: Very Little	11.4%	9.7%	10.5%	10.4%	10.0%	9.0%
Total N	1,081	1,149	1,327	1,540	1,186	1,425

Contrib: Comprehension skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	45.2%	41.1%	44.2%	43.0%	43.8%	48.1%
3: Somewhat	44.2%	48.7%	43.4%	45.8%	44.7%	42.8%
1: Not at all	1.6%	1.5%	1.9%	2.0%	2.1%	1.8%
2: Very Little	9.1%	8.7%	10.5%	9.2%	9.4%	7.4%
Total N	1,089	1,157	1,327	1,543	1,187	1,428

Contrib: Using math skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	55.6%	51.6%	53.7%	50.2%	48.1%	53.4%
3: Somewhat	32.8%	36.7%	33.7%	36.6%	39.5%	34.7%
1: Not at all	2.0%	1.8%	2.0%	2.7%	1.7%	2.3%
2: Very Little	9.6%	10.0%	10.6%	10.5%	10.8%	9.6%
Total N	1,075	1,154	1,332	1,537	1,186	1,422

Contrib: Applying sci inquiry	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	48.8%	47.0%	47.3%	46.0%	45.7%	51.1%
3: Somewhat	39.3%	40.3%	40.9%	40.1%	43.6%	38.8%
1: Not at all	2.0%	1.9%	1.8%	2.2%	1.5%	2.3%
2: Very Little	9.9%	10.8%	10.0%	11.7%	9.2%	7.8%
Total N	1,043	1,133	1,301	1,500	1,168	1,392

Contrib: Enhancing analytical skills	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	53.2%	52.7%	52.1%	50.6%	49.6%
3: Somewhat	39.5%	40.0%	40.9%	42.4%	44.6%
1: Not at all	0.9%	0.9%	1.1%	1.4%	0.9%
2: Very Little	6.4%	6.3%	5.9%	5.6%	4.9%
Total N	1,133	1,296	1,481	1,155	1,349

Contrib: Develop computer skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	67.4%	66.4%	63.0%	52.7%	42.7%	43.5%
3: Somewhat	26.4%	25.9%	28.0%	34.1%	41.3%	40.8%
1: Not at all	1.2%	1.3%	1.7%	2.6%	2.7%	3.9%
2: Very Little	4.9%	6.4%	7.4%	10.7%	13.4%	11.8%
Total N	1,072	1,162	1,326	1,524	1,183	1,401

Contrib: Understanding of diverse values	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	35.0%	35.9%	38.4%	41.7%	39.3%	44.0%
3: Somewhat	45.0%	43.8%	40.9%	41.1%	43.9%	41.7%
1: Not at all	4.6%	4.3%	5.0%	4.6%	3.8%	3.7%
2: Very Little	15.5%	16.0%	15.8%	12.6%	12.9%	10.6%
Total N	1,061	1,135	1,306	1,507	1,172	1,406

Contrib: Understanding sci/tech influence everyday life	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	56.7%	50.5%	50.7%	46.9%	46.1%	45.9%
3: Somewhat	34.5%	39.5%	39.5%	42.7%	43.3%	43.2%
1: Not at all	1.1%	1.7%	1.7%	2.1%	1.3%	1.9%
2: Very Little	7.6%	8.2%	8.0%	8.3%	9.3%	8.9%
Total N	1,074	1,152	1,318	1,514	1,172	1,406

Contrib: Ability to critically analyze ideas/info	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	51.2%	47.3%	46.8%	46.0%	45.0%	48.6%
3: Somewhat	42.1%	43.9%	44.5%	45.4%	47.5%	45.0%
1: Not at all	1.1%	1.3%	1.4%	1.2%	1.1%	0.9%
2: Very Little	5.6%	7.4%	7.3%	7.4%	6.4%	5.5%
Total N	1,075	1,145	1,318	1,519	1,175	1,407

Contrib: Ability to carry out proj indeptly	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	53.9%	52.0%	49.8%	51.6%	50.7%	48.5%
3: Somewhat	38.0%	40.1%	42.1%	39.8%	40.8%	43.6%
1: Not at all	1.5%	1.4%	2.1%	1.5%	1.4%	1.6%
2: Very Little	6.6%	6.5%	6.0%	7.0%	7.1%	6.3%
Total N	1,076	1,148	1,314	1,516	1,176	1,412

Contrib: Recog and acting ethical	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	27.3%	32.8%	33.1%	35.5%	37.0%	38.1%
3: Somewhat	47.6%	48.9%	43.9%	44.8%	46.3%	48.6%
1: Not at all	6.4%	5.0%	6.5%	5.9%	3.7%	4.0%
2: Very Little	18.7%	13.3%	16.4%	13.8%	12.9%	9.3%
Total N	1,036	180	1,277	1,490	1,151	1,369

Contrib: Public respons and commun. service	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	21.7%	20.3%	22.2%	22.7%	26.5%	45.5%
3: Somewhat	46.0%	48.8%	48.9%	50.3%	48.9%	45.3%
1: Not at all	8.7%	8.4%	7.8%	7.2%	6.4%	1.6%
2: Very Little	23.5%	22.4%	21.0%	19.8%	18.2%	7.6%
Total N	1,032	1,101	1,275	1,467	1,149	1,411

Contrib: Ability to lead or guide others	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	32.2%	36.1%	34.7%	37.2%	36.3%	37.3%
3: Somewhat	49.7%	46.2%	46.9%	46.5%	47.2%	49.2%
1: Not at all	4.3%	3.6%	3.9%	3.6%	2.8%	2.8%
2: Very Little	13.9%	14.1%	14.5%	12.8%	13.7%	10.8%
Total N	1,057	1,137	1,318	1,510	1,172	1,412

Contrib: Ability to function as part of a team	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	47.0%	46.3%	43.4%	45.1%	44.6%	45.5%
3: Somewhat	42.6%	42.7%	44.4%	43.2%	45.3%	45.3%
1: Not at all	3.2%	2.6%	2.5%	2.2%	2.2%	1.6%
2: Very Little	7.2%	8.4%	9.7%	9.4%	7.9%	7.6%
Total N	1,072	1,148	1,317	1,522	1,183	1,411

Contrib: Valuing learning as lifelong	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	51.9%	49.9%	50.9%	52.7%	51.4%	47.7%
3: Somewhat	38.2%	39.7%	39.3%	38.4%	40.0%	43.0%
1: Not at all	2.2%	2.5%	2.4%	2.3%	1.8%	2.0%
2: Very Little	7.7%	7.9%	7.3%	6.5%	6.8%	7.3%
Total N	1,076	1,144	1,308	1,513	1,176	1,403

Contrib: Commitment to fitness	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	35.7%	37.0%	35.9%	37.4%	36.9%	36.7%
3: Somewhat	42.3%	41.9%	42.4%	42.3%	43.6%	46.5%
1: Not at all	6.2%	5.0%	6.3%	5.3%	4.3%	3.8%
2: Very Little	15.7%	16.1%	15.3%	15.1%	15.2%	13.0%
Total N	1,061	1,147	1,324	1,526	1,175	1,396

Contrib: Taking responsibility for behavior	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	57.5%	58.1%	57.2%	57.4%	54.9%	53.2%
3: Somewhat	30.6%	30.0%	30.6%	32.1%	35.2%	37.5%
1: Not at all	3.8%	3.4%	3.9%	3.6%	2.7%	3.1%
2: Very Little	8.1%	8.5%	8.3%	6.9%	7.2%	6.3%
Total N	1,070	1,146	1,321	1,517	1,181	1,407

Contrib: Self-confidence	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	41.7%	43.5%	42.7%	44.2%	43.4%	43.7%
3: Somewhat	41.8%	42.5%	39.8%	40.9%	42.0%	44.0%
1: Not at all	5.2%	3.7%	4.8%	3.9%	4.1%	3.3%
2: Very Little	11.2%	10.3%	12.7%	11.0%	10.5%	9.1%
Total N	1,076	1,155	1,319	1,522	1,182	1,406

Contrib: Sense of personal identity	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	45.5%	45.0%	47.5%	48.7%	47.5%	45.2%
3: Somewhat	38.3%	39.0%	34.8%	37.2%	38.0%	41.2%
1: Not at all	5.3%	4.5%	4.7%	4.5%	4.4%	3.7%
2: Very Little	11.0%	11.4%	13.1%	9.6%	10.1%	10.0%
Total N	1,066	1,148	1,317	1,517	1,180	1,393

Contrib: Independence and self-reliance	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	64.5%	63.4%	61.7%	63.4%	57.5%	64.7%
3: Somewhat	27.7%	28.9%	30.2%	28.3%	34.2%	29.7%
1: Not at all	3.0%	1.8%	2.4%	2.4%	1.7%	1.3%
2: Very Little	4.8%	5.9%	5.7%	5.8%	6.6%	4.3%
Total N	1,078	1,153	1,325	1,524	1,186	1,412

Contrib: Potential for success	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	60.3%	57.7%	55.7%	58.1%	55.7%	59.3%
3: Somewhat	33.4%	34.5%	35.9%	34.2%	36.2%	35.2%
1: Not at all	1.9%	2.1%	3.2%	1.8%	1.4%	1.3%
2: Very Little	4.5%	5.7%	5.3%	5.9%	6.6%	4.2%
Total N	1,067	1,149	1,329	1,520	1,181	1,416

Contrib: Coping with change	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	53.4%	54.9%	51.1%	55.4%	51.4%	55.6%
3: Somewhat	36.9%	33.8%	37.5%	34.8%	38.4%	36.2%
1: Not at all	2.4%	2.5%	3.1%	2.9%	2.0%	2.6%
2: Very Little	7.3%	8.8%	8.3%	6.9%	8.2%	5.7%
Total N	1,066	1,149	1,318	1,517	1,176	1,413

Contrib: Ability to handle stress	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	41.5%	42.3%	40.9%	47.1%	42.7%	46.8%
3: Somewhat	39.1%	39.2%	38.7%	35.7%	39.8%	40.0%
1: Not at all	5.1%	5.2%	6.0%	4.5%	3.8%	4.0%
2: Very Little	14.3%	13.3%	14.4%	12.7%	13.7%	9.2%
Total N	1,077	1,152	1,327	1,517	1,184	1,419

Contrib: Time management skills	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	44.0%	51.6%	47.3%	52.1%	49.2%	54.2%
3: Somewhat	41.5%	33.4%	38.1%	35.0%	39.3%	36.0%
1: Not at all	3.5%	3.4%	4.1%	3.3%	3.2%	2.3%
2: Very Little	11.0%	11.6%	10.5%	9.7%	8.3%	7.5%
Total N	1,077	1,156	1,329	1,523	1,182	1,418

Contrib: Personal growth	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	55.7%	53.4%	58.2%	54.2%	57.2%
3: Somewhat	35.7%	37.4%	33.4%	37.6%	36.8%
1: Not at all	2.0%	2.9%	2.4%	1.9%	1.6%
2: Very Little	6.5%	6.2%	6.1%	6.3%	4.3%
Total N	1,148	1,323	1,513	1,174	1,409

Contrib: Self discipline	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	52.7%	53.1%	55.8%	52.5%	55.4%
3: Somewhat	36.0%	35.8%	33.9%	38.0%	36.8%
1: Not at all	2.4%	3.1%	2.6%	1.9%	1.8%
2: Very Little	8.9%	8.0%	7.7%	7.7%	5.9%
Total N	1,151	1,319	1,512	1,182	1,407

Contrib: Appreciating racial equity	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	30.3%	27.8%	29.9%	34.3%	35.4%	40.8%
3: Somewhat	43.2%	44.9%	46.1%	44.0%	42.7%	42.7%
1: Not at all	8.7%	7.8%	7.6%	6.7%	4.9%	5.9%
2: Very Little	17.8%	19.5%	16.5%	15.0%	16.9%	10.5%
Total N	1,019	1,118	1,276	1,483	1,154	1,386

Contrib: Develop tolerance for divergent views	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	39.6%	40.6%	40.9%	42.7%	41.7%	42.4%
3: Somewhat	44.3%	43.3%	42.4%	43.4%	42.1%	44.3%
1: Not at all	4.4%	4.3%	4.8%	4.4%	3.8%	3.8%
2: Very Little	11.7%	11.8%	11.9%	9.5%	12.4%	9.5%
Total N	1,048	1,127	1,280	1,495	1,160	1,388

Contrib: Appreciating gender equity	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	32.1%	27.0%	30.8%	34.6%	34.9%	40.8%
3: Somewhat	42.7%	47.2%	45.4%	44.3%	44.9%	41.6%
1: Not at all	8.2%	7.6%	7.1%	6.3%	4.7%	5.6%
2: Very Little	17.0%	18.2%	16.6%	14.8%	15.5%	11.9%
Total N	1,023	1,121	1,274	1,486	1,151	1,386

Contrib: Advancing appreciation of arts	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	22.1%	19.8%	22.8%	26.0%	27.4%	29.9%
3: Somewhat	35.3%	38.8%	37.2%	39.3%	39.5%	41.0%
1: Not at all	15.4%	12.7%	12.6%	10.5%	8.8%	9.2%
2: Very Little	27.2%	28.6%	27.4%	24.2%	24.3%	19.9%
Total N	1,053	1,115	1,293	1,485	1,152	1,386

Contrib: Understanding world issues	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	25.8%	26.1%	27.9%	32.4%	35.4%	34.5%
3: Somewhat	50.0%	47.8%	47.1%	48.8%	47.0%	51.6%
1: Not at all	6.0%	5.6%	5.0%	3.6%	2.7%	3.0%
2: Very Little	18.2%	20.5%	20.0%	15.1%	14.8%	11.0%
Total N	1,069	1,142	1,307	1,514	1,166	1,406

Contrib: Understanding present as relates to history	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	21.8%	24.3%	24.7%	27.0%	28.6%	30.9%
3: Somewhat	48.5%	48.6%	50.2%	47.5%	48.6%	50.3%
1: Not at all	7.0%	5.2%	5.0%	6.0%	4.6%	3.7%
2: Very Little	22.6%	21.8%	20.1%	19.5%	18.1%	15.1%
Total N	1,053	1,131	1,300	1,475	1,147	1,395

Contrib: Ability to work w diverse backgrounds	1998	1999	2000	2002	2004	2006
4: Very Much	45.7%	43.9%	42.4%	44.1%	44.5%	43.3%
3: Somewhat	41.1%	41.4%	42.8%	42.8%	43.0%	45.5%
1: Not at all	3.3%	3.3%	3.6%	3.9%	2.6%	2.4%
2: Very Little	9.9%	11.4%	11.2%	9.3%	9.8%	8.8%
Total N	1,068	1,141	1,316	1,513	1,171	1,401

Return to Overview of Results

For more information on trends in the Sophomore Student Survey contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu

Posted: May 2010

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