Institutional Research & Assessment

Reading and Writing

Respondents rated the amount of reading and writing they accomplished during the previous academic year using a 5-point scale (1 = none), 2 = fewer than 5, 3 = between 5 and 10, 4 = between 11 and 20, & 5 = more than 20). Figure 4 compares SUU, master’s peer, and NSSE student reading and writing responses. On average, SUU students read more unassigned than assigned books or book-length packets of course readings. SUU senior students wrote brief papers (i.e., fewer than 5 pages in length) most frequently (M = 3.37). Both student groups write fewer median and long papers than master’s peer and NSSE students.

SUU students also described how much their exams challenged them to do their best work using a scale of 1 (Very little) to 7 (Very much). SUU seniors and freshman found their exams similarly challenging. SUU students were also similar to students at other master’s peer and NSSE institutions.

| NSSE 2003 | Institutional Research |