Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development: Frequency Distributions

1999 Graduating Senior Survey Data Tables: Frequency Distributions to Survey Item #16
(Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development)

This document reports the frequency distribution by gender and race/ethnicity of survey item #16 of the 1999 Graduating Senior Survey. A table comparing mean ratings is available on the web.

Exact wording of question: To what exent do you think your college education contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in each of the following areas?

General Education | World Views | Personal Development

General Education

Writing skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	49.5%	51.9%	47.7%	57.9%	48.7%	53.3%
Somewhat	40.8%	39.2%	42.1%	36.8%	41.1%	40.0%
Very Little	8.6%	7.9%	9.1%	5.3%	9.1%	5.0%
Not at all	1.0%	1.0%	1.1%	0.0%	1.1%	1.7%

Speaking skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	50.5%	53.4%	48.2%	61.4%	48.7%	65.0%
Somewhat	39.5%	38.7%	40.2%	33.3%	41.1%	23.3%
Very Little	8.5%	6.7%	9.9%	5.3%	8.5%	11.7%
Not at all	1.5%	1.2%	1.7%	0.0%	1.7%	0.0%

Listening skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	46.1%	50.2%	42.9%	59.6%	44.4%	56.7%
Somewhat	43.4%	38.3%	47.4%	29.8%	45.1%	33.3%
Very Little	8.8%	9.8%	8.0%	7.0%	8.9%	8.3%
Not at all	1.7%	1.7%	1.7%	3.5%	1.6%	1.7%

Comprehension skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	51.5%	52.1%	51.0%	61.4%	50.4%	56.7%
Somewhat	41.0%	40.7%	41.3%	33.3%	42.0%	35.0%
Very Little	6.2%	6.1%	6.4%	3.5%	6.3%	8.3%
Not at all	1.3%	1.2%	1.3%	1.8%	1.3%	0.0%

Using math skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	53.4%	50.7%	55.5%	61.4%	52.4%	60.0%
Somewhat	33.1%	34.7%	31.9%	26.3%	34.1%	26.7%
Very Little	11.0%	12.1%	10.2%	10.5%	11.0%	11.7%
Not at all	2.4%	2.4%	2.5%	1.8%	2.5%	1.7%

Applying scientific methods

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	56.2%	57.2%	55.4%	52.7%	56.4%	56.9%
Somewhat	33.4%	31.3%	35.0%	38.2%	33.1%	32.8%
Very Little	9.0%	10.7%	7.6%	9.1%	9.1%	6.9%
Not at all	1.4%	0.7%	1.9%	0.0%	1.4%	3.4%

Enhancing analytic skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	64.7%	64.7%	64.8%	66.1%	65.0%	60.3%
Somewhat	31.1%	30.4%	31.6%	26.8%	31.0%	36.2%
Very Little	3.9%	4.7%	3.2%	7.1%	3.7%	3.4%
Not at all	0.3%	0.2%	0.4%	0.0%	0.4%	0.0%

Developing computer skills

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	68.6%	67.7%	69.3%	84.2%	66.9%	77.6%
Somewhat	24.7%	26.3%	23.5%	15.8%	26.0%	15.5%
Very Little	5.2%	5.1%	5.3%	0.0%	5.7%	3.4%
Not at all	1.5%	1.0%	1.9%	0.0%	1.5%	3.4%

World Views

Developing tolerance for divergent views

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	39.1%	43.2%	35.9%	50.0%	37.7%	49.1%
Somewhat	45.4%	43.7%	46.8%	37.5%	46.7%	35.1%
Very Little	11.4%	9.8%	12.6%	8.9%	11.6%	10.5%
Not at all	4.1%	3.2%	4.8%	3.6%	4.0%	5.3%

Understand diverse cultures/values

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	34.2%	38.7%	30.8%	53.6%	32.2%	44.1%
Somewhat	45.8%	42.6%	48.3%	32.1%	47.0%	42.4%
Very Little	16.0%	14.5%	17.2%	10.7%	16.8%	10.2%
Not at all	3.9%	4.2%	3.8%	3.6%	4.0%	3.4%

Recognizing/acting on ethical principles

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	33.3%	36.9%	30.6%	36.8%	32.5%	39.7%
Somewhat	45.6%	46.5%	45.0%	42.1%	46.3%	39.7%
Very Little	17.4%	14.1%	19.9%	17.5%	17.2%	20.7%
Not at all	3.7%	2.5%	4.6%	3.5%	4.0%	0.0%

Community svc/public responsibility

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	25.4%	30.7%	21.5%	24.5%	25.0%	32.7%
Somewhat	39.6%	38.0%	40.7%	39.6%	39.8%	36.4%
Very Little	26.3%	24.0%	28.1%	28.3%	26.4%	23.6%
Not at all	8.6%	7.3%	9.6%	7.5%	8.8%	7.3%

Appreciating racial equity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	28.5%	32.5%	25.5%	37.0%	27.3%	38.2%
Somewhat	41.6%	39.5%	43.2%	29.6%	42.4%	41.8%
Very Little	21.2%	21.7%	20.8%	27.8%	21.2%	14.5%
Not at all	8.6%	6.3%	10.4%	5.6%	9.1%	5.5%

Appreciating gender equity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	29.2%	32.5%	26.7%	38.9%	27.4%	45.5%
Somewhat	41.6%	36.6%	45.3%	29.6%	43.4%	27.3%
Very Little	21.1%	25.1%	18.0%	24.1%	20.8%	21.8%
Not at all	8.2%	5.9%	9.9%	7.4%	8.4%	5.5%

Appreciation of the arts

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	22.4%	26.3%	19.4%	28.3%	21.4%	30.8%
Somewhat	32.0%	29.6%	33.8%	39.6%	31.4%	32.7%
Very Little	29.4%	29.6%	29.3%	17.0%	30.4%	26.9%
Not at all	16.2%	14.5%	17.5%	15.1%	16.7%	9.6%

Understanding world issues/problems

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	37.8%	38.4%	37.3%	47.4%	36.6%	45.8%
Somewhat	42.6%	46.0%	40.0%	38.6%	43.2%	37.3%
Very Little	16.1%	13.6%	18.0%	12.3%	16.5%	13.6%
Not at all	3.5%	1.9%	4.7%	1.8%	3.6%	3.4%

Present as it relates to history

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	31.6%	33.5%	30.2%	40.0%	30.9%	33.9%
Somewhat	48.8%	43.8%	52.6%	34.5%	49.7%	50.0%
Very Little	15.8%	19.0%	13.4%	23.6%	15.4%	14.3%
Not at all	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%	1.8%	4.0%	1.8%

Science/tech influence on everyday life

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	61.3%	60.0%	62.4%	64.9%	60.7%	66.1%
Somewhat	31.0%	31.8%	30.3%	28.1%	31.1%	32.2%
Very Little	6.6%	6.6%	6.6%	7.0%	6.9%	1.7%
Not at all	1.2%	1.7%	0.7%	0.0%	1.3%	0.0%

Critical analysis of ideas/info

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	64.5%	68.0%	61.7%	64.3%	64.5%	64.4%
Somewhat	31.0%	28.1%	33.2%	28.6%	31.2%	30.5%
Very Little	3.9%	2.9%	4.7%	7.1%	3.6%	5.1%
Not at all	0.6%	1.0%	0.4%	0.0%	0.7%	0.0%

Ability to work with diverse people

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	50.4%	55.9%	46.2%	61.4%	48.2%	70.7%
Somewhat	39.3%	35.1%	42.6%	29.8%	41.2%	22.4%
Very Little	8.7%	7.3%	9.7%	5.3%	9.3%	3.4%
Not at all	1.6%	1.7%	1.5%	3.5%	1.3%	3.4%

Ability to lead or guide others

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	47.2%	51.7%	43.8%	57.1%	45.7%	58.6%
Somewhat	40.1%	36.9%	42.6%	33.9%	41.5%	27.6%
Very Little	10.1%	9.6%	10.4%	8.9%	10.2%	8.6%
Not at all	2.6%	1.7%	3.2%	0.0%	2.6%	5.2%

Ability to function as part of a team

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	61.4%	64.9%	58.8%	66.7%	61.0%	62.7%
Somewhat	30.9%	29.3%	32.2%	28.1%	31.2%	30.5%
Very Little	6.4%	4.1%	8.1%	1.8%	6.6%	6.8%
Not at all	1.3%	1.7%	0.9%	3.5%	1.2%	0.0%

Ability to plan/carry out projects indep

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	66.9%	74.1%	61.2%	71.9%	66.7%	64.4%
Somewhat	26.9%	20.0%	32.3%	19.3%	27.5%	27.1%
Very Little	5.1%	4.9%	5.3%	5.3%	4.9%	8.5%
Not at all	1.1%	1.0%	1.1%	3.5%	1.0%	0.0%

Value learning as a life-long process

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	60.7%	69.2%	54.0%	56.1%	60.9%	62.7%
Somewhat	31.8%	26.0%	36.5%	40.4%	31.3%	30.5%
Very Little	5.6%	3.6%	7.1%	1.8%	5.9%	5.1%
Not at all	1.9%	1.2%	2.5%	1.8%	2.0%	1.7%

Commitment to personal health/fitness

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	33.6%	34.6%	32.8%	42.1%	32.6%	39.7%
Somewhat	39.0%	39.5%	38.7%	28.1%	39.5%	43.1%
Very Little	21.6%	21.3%	21.9%	24.6%	21.9%	15.5%
Not at all	5.8%	4.6%	6.7%	5.3%	6.1%	1.7%

Personal Growth

Taking responsibility for own behavior

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	51.7%	56.0%	48.3%	53.6%	51.2%	57.6%
Somewhat	32.6%	29.5%	35.1%	33.9%	32.4%	33.9%
Very Little	10.4%	9.2%	11.3%	10.7%	10.6%	6.8%
Not at all	5.3%	5.3%	5.4%	1.8%	5.8%	1.7%

Self-confidence

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	49.7%	51.9%	48.0%	42.9%	49.5%	60.3%
Somewhat	36.4%	35.4%	37.2%	39.3%	36.7%	29.3%
Very Little	9.7%	9.5%	9.9%	14.3%	9.6%	6.9%
Not at all	4.2%	3.2%	4.9%	3.6%	4.2%	3.4%

Sense of personal identity

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	47.4%	54.9%	41.5%	48.2%	46.8%	50.0%
Somewhat	35.7%	31.5%	38.9%	37.5%	35.9%	25.0%
Very Little	11.4%	9.9%	12.6%	8.9%	11.6%	12.5%
Not at all	5.6%	3.7%	7.0%	5.4%	5.6%	12.5%

Independence and self-reliance

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	60.8%	67.6%	55.5%	60.7%	60.4%	66.1%
Somewhat	29.5%	25.3%	32.8%	26.8%	29.9%	27.1%
Very Little	6.7%	4.1%	8.7%	10.7%	6.7%	3.4%
Not at all	3.0%	2.9%	3.0%	1.8%	3.0%	3.4%

Potential for success

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	65.3%	67.3%	63.8%	71.9%	64.5%	70.7%
Somewhat	29.6%	28.1%	30.7%	26.3%	30.2%	24.1%
Very Little	3.4%	3.1%	3.6%	0.0%	3.6%	3.4%
Not at all	1.7%	1.5%	1.9%	1.8%	1.7%	1.7%

Coping with change

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	51.6%	56.0%	48.2%	61.4%	50.4%	59.6%
Somewhat	36.9%	33.3%	39.8%	29.8%	37.7%	33.3%
Very Little	8.2%	8.1%	8.4%	5.3%	8.8%	3.5%
Not at all	3.2%	2.7%	3.6%	3.5%	3.2%	3.5%

Ability to handle stress

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	50.8%	52.9%	49.2%	63.2%	49.5%	56.9%
Somewhat	33.1%	33.1%	33.1%	26.3%	34.0%	27.6%
Very Little	10.3%	8.9%	11.3%	7.0%	10.1%	15.5%
Not at all	5.8%	5.1%	6.4%	3.5%	6.4%	0.0%

Personal growth

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	60.5%	65.0%	57.0%	64.9%	60.0%	62.1%
Somewhat	32.9%	30.4%	34.9%	31.6%	33.3%	29.3%
Very Little	4.9%	3.4%	6.1%	3.5%	4.9%	6.9%
Not at all	1.7%	1.2%	2.1%	0.0%	1.8%	1.7%

Time management

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	57.2%	60.6%	54.6%	54.4%	58.4%	44.1%
Somewhat	32.8%	31.4%	33.9%	40.4%	31.7%	40.7%
Very Little	7.3%	5.6%	8.7%	3.5%	7.2%	11.9%
Not at all	2.6%	2.4%	2.8%	1.8%	2.7%	3.4%

Self-discipline

	All	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Very Much	59.4%	64.1%	55.8%	58.9%	59.6%	57.6%
Somewhat	31.9%	28.6%	34.4%	35.7%	31.6%	32.2%
Very Little	6.3%	5.3%	7.0%	3.6%	6.4%	6.8%
Not at all	2.4%	1.9%	2.8%	1.8%	2.4%	3.4%

For more information on the 1999 Graduating Senior 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:

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