Pluralistic Ignorance

Academics

Below are questions pertaining to Reed students' feelings about miscellaneous academic topics. 

How often do you use academic help resources? (compared to typical Reed student)

Year: 2018
Scale: 1 = Never, 4 = Occasionally, 7 = Frequently 
 

Actual norm = 3.63 (SD = 1.71)
Perceived norm = 4.04 (SD = 1.03)
p < .03, significant

Participants report that they use academic help resources less than than the average reed student. 

When you ask for academic help, how much are you struggling compared to most other Reed students? (compared to typical Reed student)

Year: 2018
Scale: 1 = struggling much less, 7 = struggling much more
 

Actual norm = 4.73 (SD = 1.41)
Perceived norm = 4.26 (SD = 0.96)
p < .005, significant

Participants report that they are struggling significantly more than the average reed student when asking for academic help. 

Have you seen your actual grades (for classes within and outside your major) during the last academic year?

Year: 2015 
 

Yes: 72

No: 83

Missing: 11

How important is academic performance to you? (most Reed students...)

Year: 2015
Scale: 0 = Not important at all, 10 = More important than anything 
 

Actual norm = 7.18 (SD = 1.75)
Perceived norm = 7.60 (SD = 1.43)
t(153) = -2.42, p < .02, significant

Participants who have seen their grades report that academic performance is more important to them (M = 7.47, SD = 1.79) than those who have not seen their grades (M = 6.93, SD = 1.68), t (153) = 1.95, p = .053.

If you had to estimate your overall GPA, what would it be?

Year: 2015
Scale: (0 = below 2.0, 1 = 2.0-2.2(C/C+), 2 = 2.3-2.6(C+/B-), 3 = 2.7-2.9(B-/B), 4 = 3.0-3.2(B/B+), 5 = 3.3-3.6(B+/A-), 6 = 3.7-4.0(A-/A)
 

Actual norm = 3.75 (SD = 1.31)

Those who have seen their grades estimate their GPA (M = 4.14, SD = 1.41) as higher than those who have not seen their grades (M = 3.42, SD = 1.12), p < .002

At what grade level do you think you are performing classes required for your major? (most Reed students...)

Year: 2015
Scale: 0 = below 2.0, 1 = 2.0-2.2(C/C+), 2 = 2.3-2.6(C+/B-), 3 = 2.7-2.9(B-/B), 4 = 3.0-3.2(B/B+), 5 = 3.3-3.6(B+/A-), 6 = 3.7-4.0(A-/A)
 

Actual norm = 4.34 (SD = 1.33)
Perceived norm = 4.34 (SD = 0.76)
p < 1.00, not significant

How academically capable do you think you are? (most Reed students'...)

Year: 2015
Scale: 0 = very capable, 1 = moderately capable, 2 = average, 3 = slightly below average, 4 = significantly below average
 

Actual norm = 1.08 (SD = 1.08)
Perceived norm = 0.53 (SD = 0.73)
p < .0001, significant

Participants report that they are significantly more capable than the average reed student.  

How satisfied are you with your academic experience at Reed?

Year: 2014 
Scale: 1 (very dissatisfied) to 7 (very satisfied)
 

Actual norm = 5.37 (SD = 1.21)
Perceived norm = 4.96 (SD = 0.93)
p < .0001, significant

Participants report that they are more satisfied with their academic experience than the average Reed student.

How important are grades to you?

Year: 2012
Scale: 1 (not at all) to 9 (extremely)
 

Actual norm = 5.18 (SD = 2.34)
Perceived norm = 4.57 (SD = 1.69)
p < 0.002, significant

Participants report their grades are more important to them than to the average Reed student.

How important are your grades to you?

Year: 2011
Scale: 1 (not at all important) to 7 (extremely important)
 

Actual norm = 4.51 (SD = 1.56)
Perceived norm = 4.06 (SD = 1.13)
p < 0.0001, significant

Participants report their grades are more important to them than to most Reed students.

How many times do you think that you will check your grades by the time you graduate?
(compared to most Reed students in your year)

Year: 2011
Scale: number of times
 

Actual norm = 4.27 (SD = 3.43)
Perceived norm = 3.65 (SD = 2.78)
p < 0.03, significant

Participants report that they think that they will check their grades more times than most students in their year.

Please rate how important you find the following reasons for why you check (or would check) your grades:

Year: 2011
Scale: 1 (not at all important) to 7 (extremely important)


I check my grades to make sure I would be a good candidate for a job or graduate school after college.
Actual norm = 5.08 (SD = 2.01)
Perceived norm = 5.60 (SD = 1.39)
p < 0.0001, significant


I check my grades if I am applying for an internship.
Actual norm = 4.95 (SD = 1.94)
Perceived norm = 5.53 (SD = 1.33)
p < 0.0001, significant


I check my grades because of my parents.
Actual norm = 2.06 (SD = 1.74)
Perceived norm = 3.11 (SD = 1.46)
p < 0.0001, significant


I check my grades to find out how I compare to other students.
Actual norm = 2.15 (SD = 1.65)
Perceived norm = 2.54 (SD = 1.54)
p < 0.004, significant

How often do you think about your grades?

Year: 2011
Scale: 1 (never) to 7 (all the time)
 

Actual norm = 4.02 (SD = 1.63)
Perceived norm = 3.67 (SD = 1.23)
p < 0.004, significant

Participants report that they think about their grades more than most Reed students.

How enthusiastic do you feel about your schoolwork?

Year: 2011
Scale: 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely)
 

Actual norm = 4.94 (SD = 1.31)
Perceived norm = 5.11 (SD = 0.93)
p < 0.05, significant

Participants report that they are less enthusiastic about their schoolwork than most Reed students.