2012 Alumni Survey
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons of Undergraduate Educational Goals
Critical and Creative Thinking Frequency Distributions

This document reports frequency distributions of critical and creative thinking goals by gender and race/ethnicity. Comparisons of mean ratings are available on the web.

Importance | Preparation

Importance

Problem solving skills overall	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	88.3%	85.9%	90.4%	92.6%	91.0%	87.7%	92.2%
3: Somewhat important	10.9%	13.3%	8.8%	5.3%	9.0%	11.5%	7.8%
2: Not very important	0.7%	0.8%	0.5%	2.1%	0.0%	0.7%	0.0%
1: Not at all important	0.1%	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,777	1,308	1,469	94	155	2,375	153

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Defining problems	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	78.6%	75.1%	81.8%	79.8%	83.1%	78.3%	79.1%
3: Somewhat important	19.3%	22.1%	16.7%	17.0%	15.6%	19.6%	19.0%
2: Not very important	1.8%	2.6%	1.2%	2.1%	1.3%	1.9%	2.0%
1: Not at all important	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%	1.1%	0.0%	0.3%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,774	1,307	1,467	94	154	2,373	153

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Examining problems from multiple perspectives	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	75.5%	74.3%	76.5%	83.0%	85.8%	74.1%	81.0%
3: Somewhat important	21.4%	22.1%	20.8%	13.8%	12.3%	22.6%	17.6%
2: Not very important	2.7%	3.1%	2.4%	2.1%	1.9%	3.0%	0.7%
1: Not at all important	0.4%	0.4%	0.3%	1.1%	0.0%	0.3%	0.7%
Total (N)	2,772	1,306	1,466	94	155	2,370	153

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Breaking down complex topics to enhance understanding	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	68.9%	67.4%	70.3%	74.5%	81.9%	67.6%	73.2%
3: Somewhat important	24.7%	25.3%	24.2%	21.3%	14.2%	25.8%	20.9%
2: Not very important	5.7%	6.5%	5.0%	4.3%	2.6%	6.0%	5.2%
1: Not at all important	0.6%	0.8%	0.5%	0.0%	1.3%	0.6%	0.7%
Total (N)	2,773	1,306	1,467	94	155	2,371	153

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Identifying relevant ideas/information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	72.7%	72.7%	72.7%	82.8%	79.1%	71.7%	75.8%
3: Somewhat important	24.5%	24.5%	24.6%	15.1%	19.6%	25.7%	17.6%
2: Not very important	2.3%	2.6%	2.1%	2.2%	1.3%	2.2%	6.5%
1: Not at all important	0.4%	0.2%	0.6%	0.0%	0.0%	0.5%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,767	1,304	1,463	93	153	2,368	153

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Using information technologies and search strategies to access information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	65.4%	66.5%	64.4%	76.3%	72.3%	64.4%	66.7%
3: Somewhat important	26.8%	25.8%	27.7%	15.1%	25.2%	27.5%	24.2%
2: Not very important	6.5%	6.3%	6.8%	7.5%	0.6%	6.8%	7.8%
1: Not at all important	1.3%	1.5%	1.2%	1.1%	1.9%	1.3%	1.3%
Total (N)	2,767	1,307	1,460	93	155	2,366	153

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Critically analyzing and evaluating ideas/information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	76.3%	73.5%	78.9%	87.1%	77.4%	75.5%	81.7%
3: Somewhat important	20.1%	21.9%	18.5%	9.7%	18.7%	21.0%	14.4%
2: Not very important	3.0%	4.1%	2.1%	3.2%	2.6%	3.0%	3.9%
1: Not at all important	0.5%	0.6%	0.4%	0.0%	1.3%	0.5%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,768	1,307	1,461	93	155	2,367	153

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Integrating ideas/information from multiple sources	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	66.9%	66.4%	67.4%	74.2%	74.0%	65.8%	72.5%
3: Somewhat important	26.8%	26.4%	27.2%	21.5%	18.8%	28.0%	20.3%
2: Not very important	5.5%	6.2%	4.9%	4.3%	5.8%	5.5%	6.5%
1: Not at all important	0.7%	1.0%	0.5%	0.0%	1.3%	0.7%	0.7%
Total (N)	2,766	1,305	1,461	93	154	2,366	153

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Constructing clear, precise, and accurate arguments	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	62.5%	59.7%	65.0%	69.9%	67.1%	61.9%	63.4%
3: Somewhat important	27.6%	28.5%	26.8%	19.4%	27.7%	28.3%	22.2%
2: Not very important	8.7%	10.3%	7.4%	8.6%	4.5%	8.7%	14.4%
1: Not at all important	1.1%	1.5%	0.8%	2.2%	0.6%	1.2%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,768	1,307	1,461	93	155	2,367	153

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Combining/synthesizing existing ideas/information in original ways	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	52.3%	52.5%	52.2%	65.6%	66.2%	50.4%	60.1%
3: Somewhat important	34.4%	33.8%	35.0%	30.1%	24.7%	35.9%	24.8%
2: Not very important	11.6%	11.7%	11.5%	3.2%	8.4%	12.1%	13.1%
1: Not at all important	1.6%	1.9%	1.4%	1.1%	0.6%	1.7%	2.0%
Total (N)	2,765	1,306	1,459	93	154	2,365	153

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Generating innovative solutions	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very important	59.8%	55.4%	63.7%	64.5%	66.2%	59.0%	62.1%
3: Somewhat important	31.1%	34.2%	28.3%	25.8%	29.2%	31.7%	27.5%
2: Not very important	8.0%	9.2%	7.0%	9.7%	3.2%	8.1%	10.5%
1: Not at all important	1.1%	1.2%	1.0%	0.0%	1.3%	1.2%	0.0%
Total (N)	2,767	1,306	1,461	93	154	2,367	153

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Preparation

Problem solving skills overall	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	52.5%	48.0%	56.5%	55.9%	56.1%	52.3%	49.7%
3: Somewhat	42.0%	46.3%	38.3%	38.7%	38.7%	42.2%	45.1%
2: Very little	4.6%	5.1%	4.2%	4.3%	5.2%	4.7%	2.6%
1: Not at all	0.9%	0.6%	1.1%	1.1%	0.0%	0.8%	2.6%
Total (N)	2,764	1,303	1,461	93	155	2,363	153

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Defining problems	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	44.2%	41.7%	46.4%	43.0%	49.7%	44.1%	40.5%
3: Somewhat	46.9%	49.3%	44.8%	47.3%	46.5%	46.9%	46.4%
2: Very little	7.8%	7.9%	7.6%	8.6%	3.9%	7.8%	9.8%
1: Not at all	1.2%	1.1%	1.2%	1.1%	0.0%	1.1%	3.3%
Total (N)	2,761	1,303	1,458	93	155	2,360	153

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Examining problems from multiple perspectives	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	41.9%	41.5%	42.3%	40.9%	52.3%	41.6%	37.9%
3: Somewhat	47.4%	48.0%	46.9%	43.0%	36.8%	48.2%	48.4%
2: Very little	9.3%	9.3%	9.3%	14.0%	10.3%	8.9%	11.8%
1: Not at all	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%	2.2%	0.6%	1.3%	2.0%
Total (N)	2,763	1,303	1,460	93	155	2,362	153

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Breaking down complex topics to enhance understanding	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	42.0%	41.8%	42.3%	45.2%	58.7%	41.2%	36.6%
3: Somewhat	48.2%	49.2%	47.4%	44.1%	34.2%	49.4%	47.1%
2: Very little	8.5%	8.1%	9.0%	8.6%	6.5%	8.4%	13.1%
1: Not at all	1.2%	0.9%	1.4%	2.2%	0.6%	1.0%	3.3%
Total (N)	2,761	1,301	1,460	93	155	2,360	153

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Identifying relevant ideas/information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	41.5%	43.4%	39.8%	35.5%	49.4%	41.4%	38.8%
3: Somewhat	51.4%	50.0%	52.6%	52.7%	46.1%	51.5%	53.9%
2: Very little	6.2%	5.8%	6.7%	10.8%	3.9%	6.2%	5.9%
1: Not at all	0.9%	0.8%	1.0%	1.1%	0.6%	0.9%	1.3%
Total (N)	2,755	1,298	1,457	93	154	2,356	152

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Using information technologies and search strategies to access information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	44.6%	46.5%	42.9%	38.7%	56.8%	44.0%	45.4%
3: Somewhat	42.6%	41.8%	43.4%	46.2%	32.3%	43.6%	36.8%
2: Very little	11.0%	10.4%	11.4%	11.8%	10.3%	10.7%	14.5%
1: Not at all	1.8%	1.2%	2.3%	3.2%	0.6%	1.7%	3.3%
Total (N)	2,755	1,302	1,453	93	155	2,355	152

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Critically analyzing and evaluating ideas/information	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	48.8%	48.2%	49.3%	38.7%	55.5%	49.0%	44.7%
3: Somewhat	45.8%	46.4%	45.3%	54.8%	40.0%	45.8%	46.7%
2: Very little	4.7%	5.0%	4.5%	6.5%	3.9%	4.5%	7.2%
1: Not at all	0.7%	0.5%	0.9%	0.0%	0.6%	0.7%	1.3%
Total (N)	2,758	1,302	1,456	93	155	2,358	152

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Integrating ideas/information from multiple sources	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	42.8%	45.9%	40.0%	31.2%	56.1%	42.6%	38.8%
3: Somewhat	49.5%	47.8%	51.1%	57.0%	38.7%	49.8%	52.6%
2: Very little	6.7%	5.7%	7.6%	9.7%	4.5%	6.7%	7.2%
1: Not at all	1.0%	0.6%	1.3%	2.2%	0.6%	0.9%	1.3%
Total (N)	2,755	1,301	1,454	93	155	2,355	152

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Constructing clear, precise, and accurate arguments	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	35.7%	38.2%	33.4%	29.0%	47.1%	35.4%	31.6%
3: Somewhat	50.8%	48.2%	53.1%	54.8%	40.0%	51.3%	51.3%
2: Very little	11.4%	11.8%	11.1%	10.8%	11.0%	11.2%	15.1%
1: Not at all	2.1%	1.9%	2.3%	5.4%	1.9%	2.0%	2.0%
Total (N)	2,757	1,302	1,455	93	155	2,357	152

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Combining/synthesizing existing ideas/information in original ways	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	31.4%	32.9%	30.1%	26.9%	42.2%	30.9%	31.6%
3: Somewhat	52.9%	52.3%	53.3%	52.7%	42.9%	53.8%	48.0%
2: Very little	13.4%	12.8%	13.9%	16.1%	13.6%	13.1%	15.8%
1: Not at all	2.3%	1.9%	2.7%	4.3%	1.3%	2.2%	4.6%
Total (N)	2,754	1,301	1,453	93	154	2,355	152

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Generating innovative solutions	NCSU	Women	Men	Asian	AfAm	White	Other
4: Very much	31.6%	30.1%	33.0%	24.7%	36.1%	32.1%	24.3%
3: Somewhat	50.8%	52.4%	49.4%	54.8%	43.2%	51.3%	48.7%
2: Very little	14.8%	14.9%	14.7%	16.1%	16.8%	14.2%	21.1%
1: Not at all	2.8%	2.6%	3.0%	4.3%	3.9%	2.5%	5.9%
Total (N)	2,758	1,302	1,456	93	155	2,358	152

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For more information on the 2012 Alumni 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: July, 2012

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