Critique of college preparation by University of Houston freshmen

This study was conducted during the Spring and Summer of 1967 at the University of Houston for the purpose of exploring the perceptions of experienced freshmen regarding the nature and adequacy of their college preparation. Simple statistical and computer treatment of responses to an experimental questionnaire facilitated the discussion of preparatory experiences. Questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected sections of the second semester required English course near the end of the Spring semester. Responses from 355 students, representing 9.7 per cent of the students officially classified as "former freshmen," were used for the study. Frequencies of responses for each of the direct questions and seventeen scores which related to school factors were computed. Means and standard deviations were also computed for the aggregate and then for five demographic groups as determined by sex and geographical proximity of high school of graduation to the University. The F-test was computed to ascertain statistically significant differences among means for the five groups according to scores. Free responses were used for illustration and illumination of statistical responses. [...]