2011 National Survey of Student Engagement
Comparisons of First-Year and Senior Students
Level of Academic Challenge (LAC) Frequencies

Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work	FY	SR
4: Very much	38.3%	38.0%
3: Quite a bit	48.2%	47.1%
2: Some	13.4%	13.7%
1: Very little	0.1%	1.2%
Total (N)	731	635

Analyzing basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory	FY	SR
4: Very much	37.1%	46.4%
3: Quite a bit	46.5%	42.8%
2: Some	15.2%	8.9%
1: Very little	1.2%	1.8%
Total (N)	765	661

Synthesizing and organizing ideas/info/experiences into new, more complex interpretations/relationships	FY	SR
4: Very much	28.2%	36.8%
3: Quite a bit	44.9%	39.8%
2: Some	23.0%	19.4%
1: Very little	3.9%	4.0%
Total (N)	768	661

Making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods	FY	SR
4: Very much	25.5%	32.1%
3: Quite a bit	44.6%	39.1%
2: Some	25.8%	22.8%
1: Very little	4.1%	6.0%
Total (N)	769	662

Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations	FY	SR
4: Very much	42.3%	47.1%
3: Quite a bit	38.1%	36.5%
2: Some	17.6%	14.6%
1: Very little	2.1%	1.8%
Total (N)	767	661

Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in	FY	SR
4: Very often	17.2%	10.3%
3: Often	35.5%	23.9%
2: Sometimes	32.3%	42.9%
1: Never	15.0%	22.9%
Total (N)	848	708

Worked on a paper or project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources	FY	SR
4: Very often	30.3%	44.8%
3: Often	49.4%	39.4%
2: Sometimes	19.1%	14.8%
1: Never	1.3%	1.0%
Total (N)	853	712

Included diverse perspectives in class discussions or writing assignments	FY	SR
4: Very often	16.3%	22.2%
3: Often	42.2%	33.7%
2: Sometimes	34.7%	34.4%
1: Never	6.8%	9.7%
Total (N)	851	705

Come to class without completing readings or assignments	FY	SR
4: Very often	4.4%	6.2%
3: Often	12.4%	17.9%
2: Sometimes	59.1%	60.4%
1: Never	24.1%	15.4%
Total (N)	853	710

Put together ideas/concepts from different courses when completing assignments/class discussions	FY	SR
4: Very often	13.9%	27.5%
3: Often	40.4%	48.4%
2: Sometimes	40.7%	22.1%
1: Never	5.0%	2.0%
Total (N)	785	682

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