The Capacity for Life-Long Learning of College Seniors in the Mid-1980s to the Mid-1990s. ASHE Annual Meeting Paper.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Capacity for Life-Long Learning of College Seniors in the Mid-1980s to the Mid-1990s. ASHE Annual Meeting Paper.
Language: English
Authors: Hayek, John C., Kuh, George D.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 1998
Document Type: Reports - Research
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Basic Skills, College Outcomes Assessment, College Seniors, Higher Education, Independent Study, Liberal Arts, Lifelong Learning, Majors (Students), Selective Colleges, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Skill Development, Student Development, Student Experience, Trend Analysis
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: College Student Experiences Questionnaire
Abstract: This study compared college seniors' self-evaluation of skills considered important for lifelong learning from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The study used data from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), a national database begun in 1983 which includes over 200,000 student records from over 600 colleges and universities. An index derived from the CSEQ, the Capacity for Life-Long Learning, was applied to the records of 26,629 college seniors from 173 colleges and universities who completed the CSEQ in 1984-87 and 16,794 seniors who completed the CSEQ in 1994-97. Findings led to three conclusions: (1) the capacity for life-long learning of seniors in the 1990s approximated that of their 1980s counterparts; (2) students at selective liberal arts colleges exhibited the greatest capacity for life-long learning during both time periods, especially when compared with students at general liberal arts colleges and comprehensive colleges and universities; and (3) students majoring in basic academic disciplines fared better than others (especially business and computer science majors) in developing life-long learning skills and competencies. (Contains 34 references.) (DB)
Entry Date: 1999
Accession Number: ED427592
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This study compared college seniors' self-evaluation of skills considered important for lifelong learning from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The study used data from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), a national database begun in 1983 which includes over 200,000 student records from over 600 colleges and universities. An index derived from the CSEQ, the Capacity for Life-Long Learning, was applied to the records of 26,629 college seniors from 173 colleges and universities who completed the CSEQ in 1984-87 and 16,794 seniors who completed the CSEQ in 1994-97. Findings led to three conclusions: (1) the capacity for life-long learning of seniors in the 1990s approximated that of their 1980s counterparts; (2) students at selective liberal arts colleges exhibited the greatest capacity for life-long learning during both time periods, especially when compared with students at general liberal arts colleges and comprehensive colleges and universities; and (3) students majoring in basic academic disciplines fared better than others (especially business and computer science majors) in developing life-long learning skills and competencies. (Contains 34 references.) (DB)