NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, 2008
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PROJECT RESPONSES
The questions and responses below are taken from student responses to the American Democracy
Project Consortium section of the 2008 administration of the NSSE survey. To see questions and
responses from the basic NSSE survey, go to http://www.uni.edu/assessment/data/nssedata.shtml.
To allow for easy comparison of first-year and senior responses, first-year responses to each item are
presented on top; senior responses are presented below.
The NSSE survey was administered to a random sample of first-year students and seniors at the
University of Northern Iowa during the spring semester of the 2007-2008 school year. For specific
information about the administration of this survey, go to http://www.uni.edu/assessment/data/nssedata.shtml.
The questions added to the 2008 NSSE survey by the American Democracy Project Consortium provide
information in the following areas:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Importance of various causes
Sources for various kinds of information
Activities students participated in during the past year and their reasons for participating
Beliefs about politics
The tables below provide breakdowns of responses for each of the subpart of each of the four questions.
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS CAUSES (ADP Question 1)
1. How important is each of the following issues
or causes to you?
Col %
Not at all
important
(1)
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Col %
Col %
Not too
Somewhat
important
important
(2)
(3)
Col %
Very
Important
(4)
1a. Education
0%
0%
0%
1%
9%
12%
91%
87%
1b. Environment
0%
1%
6%
5%
42%
40%
52%
53%
1c. Healthcare
0%
1%
6%
6%
37%
38%
57%
55%
1d. Economy
0%
1%
5%
7%
44%
45%
51%
47%
1e. Entertainment & recreation
0%
1%
5%
12%
40%
43%
55%
44%
1f. Religion
6%
8%
12%
16%
29%
37%
52%
39%
1g. National security
1%
2%
8%
12%
44%
44%
48%
41%
1h. Human and civil rights
0%
0%
5%
5%
33%
33%
62%
61%
1i. Neighborhood issues
2%
2%
14%
15%
49%
51%
34%
32%
1j. International issues
1%
1%
11%
13%
57%
58%
31%
28%
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
SOURCES OF INFORMATION (ADP QUESTION 2)
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2a. Local news?
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
5%
4%
Family or friends
28%
13%
Radio
2%
7%
Television
36%
46%
Print newspapers or magazines
10%
12%
Online resources
15%
14%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
4%
3%
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
SOURCES OF INFORMATION (ADP QUESTION 2), continued
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2b. National news
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
4%
1%
Family or friends
12%
7%
Radio
1%
5%
Television
47%
48%
Print newspapers or magazines
2%
5%
Online resources
32%
32%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
2%
1%
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2c. International news
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
5%
2%
Family or friends
11%
6%
Radio
1%
5%
Television
39%
38%
Print newspapers or magazines
2%
6%
Online resources
33%
38%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
9%
5%
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
SOURCES OF INFORMATION (ADP QUESTION 2), continued
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2d. Volunteering
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
49%
51%
Family or friends
22%
20%
Radio
0%
1%
Television
1%
2%
Print newspapers or magazines
6%
5%
Online resources
7%
6%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
15%
15%
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
SOURCES OF INFORMATION (ADP QUESTION 2), continued
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2e. Voting
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
12%
9%
Family or friends
37%
27%
Radio
2%
3%
Television
24%
32%
Print newspapers or magazines
4%
8%
Online resources
14%
15%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
7%
7%
Where do you generally get most of your
information about
2f. Being involved in social or political issues
(organizing, petitioning, protesting)
My institution (classes, organizations, etc.)
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
% Choosing Response
24%
25%
Family or friends
24%
19%
Radio
1%
2%
Television
9%
9%
Print newspapers or magazines
4%
5%
Online resources
7%
10%
Not applicable, I don’t usually pay attention
31%
30%
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES ONLY (ADP Questions 3-15)
Below are some activities that you might have done in the past year. Please indicate if you did it . . . and
why you did it.
NOTE: The table below provides responses to the first part of this question (if the respondent did
it.) Tables with responses to the second part of the question follow the responses to Question 16.
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
3. Join a local community group or
organization
271 (75%)
368 (73%)
97 (25%)
145 (27%)
368
513
4. Fundraise for a charitable
organization
263 (73%)
308 (61%)
107 (27%)
207 (39%)
370
515
5. Participate in a fundraising
run/walk/ride
249 (71%)
353 (70%)
118 (29%)
162 (30%)
367
515
6. Volunteer with a local community
organization or religious group
246 (68%)
288 (57%)
124 (32%)
227 (43%)
370
515
7. Send a letter or email to the media
343 (92%)
429 (82%)
27 (8%)
86 (18%)
370
515
8. Contact public officials about an
issue (e.g., mayor, secretary of
state, member of congress, etc.)
352 (96%)
419 (81%)
15 (4%)
96 (19%)
367
515
9. Sign a petition related to a political
or community issue
296 (79%)
376 (72%)
74 (21%)
140 (28%)
370
516
10. Organize a petition
367 (99%)
507 (98%)
3 (1%)
8 (2%)
370
515
11. Display buttons, signs or stickers
about political or social issues
203 (56%)
349 (67%)
166 (44%)
167 (33%)
369
516
12. Participate in a boycott, protest, or
rally abut an issue that is important
to you
346 (93%)
472 (91%)
23 (7%)
40 (9%)
369
512
13. Volunteer to work on a political or
issue campaign
329 (90%)
451 (88%)
37 (10%)
64 (12%)
366
515
14. Run for an elected leadership
position on (e.g., student
government) or off the campus (e.g.,
city council)
350 (96%)
475 (92%)
16 (4%)
39 (8%)
366
514
15. Vote in an election either on or off
campus
168 (44%)
215 (41%)
200 (56%)
301 (59%)
368
516
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
BELIEFS ABOUT POLITICS (ADP Question 16)
16. Here are some statements that students make about politics. Please indicate whether you agree or
disagree with the statements.
Statement
Col %
Strongly
disagree
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Col %
Col %
Disagree
Agree
Col %
Strongly
agree
16a. I believe my coursework is preparing me to
participate in politics (e.g., voting, volunteering or
contributing to a campaign, or persuading others
about a candidate or political issue).
26 (8%)
67 (13%)
165 (43%)
241 (46%)
156 (44%)
173 (35%)
18 (5%)
26 (6%)
16b. I believe my coursework is preparing me to
discuss politics and government with my friends and
family.
32 (8%)
33 (6%)
100 (26%)
131 (24%)
187 (53%)
267 (53%)
45 (14%)
75 (17%)
16c. You can trust politicians to do the right thing most
of the time.
41 (11%)
64 (13%)
179 (48%)
247 (49%)
137 (38%)
189 (38%)
7 (2%)
3 (1%)
16d. Public officials are interested in what college
students have to say about issues.
27 (7%)
57 (12%)
143 (41%)
218 (43%)
177 (48%)
220 (43%)
16 (4%)
10 (2%)
16e. Voting is the most effective way to ensure the
government hears your voice.
17 (4%)
31 (7%)
97 (28%)
139 (28%)
198 (54%)
247 (48%)
53 (14%)
89 (18%)
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT
(ADP Questions 3-15, continued)
Below are some activities that you might have done in the past year. Please indicate if you did it . . . and
why you did it.
NOTE: The tables combine responses to this question—if respondents did the activity and
reasons why they did it. For a table containing only responses on what activities were done, see
the pages above.
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
3. Join a local community group or
organization
271 (75%)
368 (73%)
97 (25%)
145 (27%)
368
513
3. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
28
54
29%
37%
To satisfy a requirement
1
8
1%
5%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
4
8
5%
7%
Religious reasons
15
6
14%
4%
My friends or family are involved
8
8
8%
6%
To prepare for a job or future career
14
33
17%
21%
It’s fun or satisfying
25
25
25%
18%
Other reason
1
3
1%
2%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
96
145
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
4. Fundraise for a charitable
organization
263 (73%)
308 (61%)
107 (27%)
207 (39%)
370
515
4. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
66
80
63%
39%
To satisfy a requirement
5
9
5%
4%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
4
0%
2%
Religious reasons
3
5
3%
3%
My friends or family are involved
13
43
13%
20%
To prepare for a job or future career
2
7
2%
4%
It’s fun or satisfying
13
39
11%
20%
Other reason
4
17
4%
9%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
106
204
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
5. Participate in a fundraising
run/walk/ride
249 (71%)
353 (70%)
118 (29%)
162 (30%)
367
515
5. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
53
59
44%
36%
To satisfy a requirement
3
5
2%
3%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
2
0%
2%
Religious reasons
0
0
0%
0%
My friends or family are involved
26
41
23%
24%
To prepare for a job or future career
2
4
1%
3%
It’s fun or satisfying
29
43
24%
26%
Other reason
5
7
4%
6%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
118
161
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
6. Volunteer with a local community
organization or religious group
246 (68%)
288 (57%)
124 (32%)
227 (43%)
370
515
6. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
34
68
27%
30%
To satisfy a requirement
10
15
9%
6%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
5
0%
2%
Religious reasons
33
39
26%
17%
My friends or family are involved
14
24
11%
11%
To prepare for a job or future career
5
22
5%
10%
It’s fun or satisfying
25
44
20%
20%
Other reason
2
7
2%
3%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
123
224
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
7. Send a letter or email to the media
343 (92%)
429 (82%)
27 (8%)
86 (18%)
370
515
7. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
9
33
32%
41%
To satisfy a requirement
2
8
5%
9%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
1
2
6%
2%
Religious reasons
1
0
3%
0%
My friends or family are involved
4
8
13%
9%
To prepare for a job or future career
3
5
12%
5%
It’s fun or satisfying
3
9
15%
11%
Other reason
4
20
15%
23%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
27
85
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
8. Contact public officials about an
issue (e.g., mayor, secretary of state,
member of congress, etc.)
352 (96%)
419 (81%)
15 (4%)
96 (19%)
367
515
8. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
8
40
55%
43%
To satisfy a requirement
3
15
15%
15%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
8
0%
8%
Religious reasons
1
0
5%
0%
My friends or family are involved
0
5
0%
5%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
1
0%
1%
It’s fun or satisfying
1
7
10%
9%
Other reason
2
18
15%
20%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
15
94
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
9. Sign a petition related to a political
or community issue
296 (79%)
376 (72%)
74 (21%)
140 (28%)
370
516
9. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
42
76
58%
55%
To satisfy a requirement
2
6
3%
4%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
2
7
2%
5%
Religious reasons
2
4
2%
2%
My friends or family are involved
7
16
11%
12%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
0
0%
0%
It’s fun or satisfying
5
6
7%
4%
Other reason
14
22
18%
17%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
74
137
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
10. Organize a petition
367(99%)
507 (98%)
3 (1%)
8 (2%)
370
515
10. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
1
4
33%
54%
To satisfy a requirement
2
2
67%
18%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
1
0%
14%
Religious reasons
0
0
0%
0%
My friends or family are involved
0
0
0%
0%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
0
0%
0%
It’s fun or satisfying
0
0
0%
0%
Other reason
0
1
0%
14%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
3
8
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
11. Display buttons, signs or stickers
about political or social issues
203 (56%)
349 (67%)
166 (44%)
167 (33%)
369
516
11. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
76
69
46%
42%
To satisfy a requirement
0
4
0%
2%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
4
3
2%
2%
Religious reasons
3
4
1%
3%
My friends or family are involved
26
35
18%
21%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
2
0%
1%
It’s fun or satisfying
31
27
18%
16%
Other reason
25
21
15%
13%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
165
165
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total - Yes
12. Participate in a boycott, protest,
or rally about an issue that is
important to you
346 (93%)
472 (91%)
23 (7%)
40 (9%)
369
512
12. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
10
23
51%
60%
To satisfy a requirement
0
0
0%
0%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
0
4
0%
10%
Religious reasons
1
1
3%
2%
My friends or family are involved
3
2
12%
5%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
0
0%
0%
It’s fun or satisfying
6
2
25%
6%
Other reason
3
6
9%
16%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
23
38
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total
13. Volunteer to work on a political or
issue campaign
329 (90%)
451 (88%)
37 (10%)
64 (12%)
366
515
13. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
22
35
61%
54%
To satisfy a requirement
0
1
0%
1%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
1
2
4%
3%
Religious reasons
0
1
0%
1%
My friends or family are involved
3
6
8%
10%
To prepare for a job or future career
0
2
0%
3%
It’s fun or satisfying
7
12
17%
19%
Other reason
4
4
10%
8%
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
37
63
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total - Yes
14. Run for an elected leadership
position on (e.g., student
government) or off campus (e.g., city
council)
350 (96%)
475 (92%)
16 (4%)
39 (8%)
366
514
14. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
To feel like I was making a difference
4
9
25%
20%
To satisfy a requirement
0
0
0%
0%
I was inspired by a course or a
professor
0
3
0%
8%
Religious reasons
1
0
5%
0%
My friends or family are involved
0
2
0%
5%
To prepare for a job or future career
8
12
60%
34%
It’s fun or satisfying
2
11
10%
28%
Other reason
0
2
0%
5%
Total
responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
15
39
INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES WITH REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT, continued
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Activity
No
Yes
Total - Yes
15. Vote in an election either on or off
campus
168 (44%)
215 (41%)
200 (56%)
301 (59%)
368
516
15. Reason
First-year response rate
Senior response rate
Count
Percent
131
200
66%
67%
To satisfy a requirement
6
2
2%
1%
I was inspired by a course or a professor
2
5
1%
2%
Religious reasons
0
1
0%
0%
My friends or family are involved
18
29
10%
10%
To prepare for a job or future career
2
1
1%
0%
It’s fun or satisfying
13
19
7%
7%
Other reason
26
43
13%
14%
To feel like I was making a difference
Total responses
NSSE 2008—ADP Responses
198
300