2011 National Survey of Student Engagement
Trend Comparisons
Level of Academic Challenge (LAC) Frequencies

Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very much	34.2%	40.9%	38.1%
3: Quite a bit	49.8%	44.6%	47.7%
2: Some	14.8%	13.5%	13.5%
1: Very little	1.2%	1.0%	0.6%
Total (N)	406	1,936	1,366

Analyzing basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very much	34.7%	42.0%	41.4%
3: Quite a bit	47.2%	44.6%	44.8%
2: Some	15.2%	12.8%	12.3%
1: Very little	2.9%	0.6%	1.5%
Total (N)	409	2,008	1,426

Synthesizing and organizing ideas/info/experiences into new, more complex interpretations/relationships	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very much	27.1%	31.2%	32.2%
3: Quite a bit	44.4%	44.6%	42.6%
2: Some	23.7%	21.4%	21.3%
1: Very little	4.9%	2.7%	3.9%
Total (N)	410	1,999	1,429

Making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very much	21.7%	28.9%	28.5%
3: Quite a bit	39.9%	41.0%	42.1%
2: Some	29.2%	25.4%	24.4%
1: Very little	9.2%	4.7%	5.0%
Total (N)	411	2,005	1,431

Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very much	39.2%	44.9%	44.5%
3: Quite a bit	34.3%	36.6%	37.3%
2: Some	22.1%	16.3%	16.3%
1: Very little	4.4%	2.1%	2.0%
Total (N)	408	2,010	1,428

Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very often	20.6%	17.4%	14.1%
3: Often	28.4%	30.1%	30.3%
2: Sometimes	31.6%	34.1%	37.1%
1: Never	19.4%	18.5%	18.6%
Total (N)	412	2,147	1,556

Worked on a paper or project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very often	31.3%	42.4%	36.8%
3: Often	48.8%	42.1%	44.9%
2: Sometimes	18.2%	14.5%	17.1%
1: Never	1.7%	1.0%	1.1%
Total (N)	412	2,146	1,565

Included diverse perspectives in class discussions or writing assignments	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very often	.	21.2%	19.0%
3: Often	.	37.6%	38.4%
2: Sometimes	.	33.7%	34.6%
1: Never	.	7.4%	8.1%
Total (N)	.	2,145	1,556

Come to class without completing readings or assignments	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very often	9.4%	6.4%	5.2%
3: Often	18.4%	16.6%	14.9%
2: Sometimes	59.8%	59.4%	59.7%
1: Never	12.3%	17.6%	20.2%
Total (N)	413	2,148	1,563

Put together ideas/concepts from different courses when completing assignments/class discussions	NSSE01	NSSE09	NSSE11
4: Very often	.	21.7%	20.2%
3: Often	.	40.1%	44.1%
2: Sometimes	.	34.7%	32.1%
1: Never	.	3.5%	3.6%
Total (N)	.	2,047	1,467

Back to top
Back to trend comparisons

Return to 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement Table of Contents Page

Return to OIRP Survey Page

Return to OIRP Home Page