Pluralistic Ignorance

Studying and Workload

Below are questions pertaining to Reed students' feelings about studying and their academic workload.

How many hours on average do you spend studying for an exam? (most Reed students'...)

Year: 2015
Scale: 0 = none, 1 = 1-2 hours, 2 = > 2-4 hours, 3 = > 4-6 hours, 4 = > 6-8 hours, 5 = > 8-10 hours, 6 = more than 10 hours
 

Actual norm = 2.45 (SD = 1.36)
Perceived norm = 3.14 (SD = 1.19)
t(152) = -7.61, p < 0.008, significant

Participants report that they study for less time on average than most Reed students.

On average, how many hours a day do you spend on school work?

Year: 2013
Scale: Number of hours
 

Actual norm = 4.96 (SD = 2.16)
Perceived norm = 5.71(SD = 1.83)
p < .0001, significant

Participants report that they spend fewer hours a day on school work than the average Reed student.

How often do you fail to complete an assigned reading or problem set?

Year: 2012
Scale: 1 (very rarely) to 7 (very frequently)
 

Actual norm = 2.83 (SD = 1.67)
Perceived norm = 3.53 (SD = 1.25)
p < 0.0001, significant

Participants report that they fail to complete an assignment less frequently than the average Reed student. 

How bothered are you when you don’t complete an assigned reading or problem set?

Year: 2012
Scale: 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely)
 

Actual norm = 5.22 (SD = 1.40)
Perceived norm = 4.38 (SD = 1.27)
p < 0.0001, significant

Participants report that they are more bothered by not completing an assignment than the average Reed student.

How many hours do you spend studying each day?

Year: 2008
Scale: Number of hours
 

Actual norm = 3.82 (SD = 1.25)
Perceived norm = 4.63 (SD = 1.08)
p < 0.0001, significant

Participants report that they study fewer hours each day than the typical Reed student.

How hard of a worker are you?

Year: 2008
Scale: 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely)
 

Actual norm = 4.34 (SD = 1.63)
Perceived norm = 5.10 (SD = 1.28)
p < 0.0001, significant

Participants report that they are less hard working than the typical Reed student.

How academically productive are you?

Year: 2007
Scale: 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely)
 

Actual norm = 6.37 (SD = 1.89)
Perceived norm = 6.81 (SD = 1.31)
p < 0.008, significant

Participants report that they are less academically productive than the typical Reed student.

On the average day, how many hours (outside of class) do you spend doing class-related work?

Year: 2007
Scale: 0.5 to 6+ hours
 

Self: 4.48 (SD = 1.51)

Average student in your class: 4.32 (SD = 1.18)         t(159) = 1.87, p < 0.06, significant
Average student in your year: 4.36 (SD = 1.38)              t(159) = 1.44, p < 0.15, not significant
Average Reed student: 4.52 (SD = 1.18)                        t(159) = -0.27, p < 0.79, not significant