Seaver Undergraduate Survey on
Faith and Vocation
2011-2014
Cindy Miller-Perrin and Don Thompson
University Spiritual Life Committee
March 7, 2016
Sample Characteristics
• Student survey data from 2011-2014, including participants
who completed the survey during their first and third years
• Sample size: 250; Ages: 18: 57%, 19: 41%, 20+: 2%
• Gender: 35% male, 64% female; International Students 9.9%
• (%) African-American 4.7, Asian-American 9.1, Asian 15.5,
Caucasion 50, American Indian 1.7, Native Hawaiian 0.9,
Multiracial 8.6, Other 1.7
• (%) Agnostic 5.6, Atheist 3, Buddhist 1.3, Catholic 22, Hindu
0.4, Jewish 0.9, Muslim 0.4, Protestant 42.7, Other 23.3
Faith and Spirituality
I continually look for ways to strengthen my faith.
I look to God for strength, support, and guidance.
I believe in God.
Most of the time, I feel close to God.
Mature Faith Index
My faith helps me know right from wrong.
I take time for periods of prayer or meditation.
Every day I see evidence that God is active in the
world.
As I grow older, my understanding of God changes.
College Student
Faith Behaviors
How often do you attend religious services?
How often have you read the Bible in the last year?
How often have you engaged in community service
over the past year?
How often do you read devotional, religious, or
spiritual material other than the Bible?
Spiritual Struggles
Wondering whether God has abandoned me
Questioning the teachings of my faith
I argue with my parents because of religious beliefs.
I am frustrated with God.
Understanding of Vocation
Vocation is one’s job or career
My definition of vocation is based on my religious faith
Vocation is one’s life purpose.
Vocation is a holy sacrament, like communion,
confession or baptism.
Vocational Discernment
and Action
I do not spend much time contemplating my vocation
I am confident that I am living out my vocation calling
I feel a great sense of passion for the topics covered in
my major.
General Life Purpose
I have goals that I am working towards
I know how I should be using my gifts and talents
Everyday is new to me
I make a difference in the lives of those around me
Personal Barriers
My need for personal control over my life
Being uncertain of what God wants for me
Lack of motivation
Selfishness
Interpersonal Barriers
Boyfriend or girlfriend
Parents
Teacher or professor
A family friend
Sociocultural Barriers
Lack of financial resources
Feeling pressure or a desire to get married
Feeling that opportunities are limited by gender
stereotypes of my friends.
Financial debt
Wellness
I am always optimistic about my future
In general, I feel confident about my abilities
My life has often seemed devoid of positive mental
stimulation.
I expect always to be physically healthy.
Time Differences: Mature
Faith Index
165.8
165.6
165.4
165.2
165
164.8
164.6
164.4
164.2
164
163.8
Time 1
Time 2
Time Differences: College
Student Behaviors
58
57.5
57
56.5
56
55.5
55
54.5
Time 1
Time 2
Time Differences: Divine
Struggles
12
11.8
11.6
11.4
11.2
11
10.8
Time 1
Time 2
Total Sample Correlations
Faith/
Spiritual
Faith/
Spiritual
Mature
Faith Index
Faith
Behaviors
Understand
Vocation
Discern/
Action
1
Mature
Faith
Index
Faith
Understand Discern/
Behaviors Vocation
Acton
Life
Purpose
Personal Interperson Sociocult
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Wellness
.787**
.800**
.511**
.118
.405**
-.019
-.014
-.035
.405**
1
.786**
.468**
.084
.357**
.004
-.003
-.007
.468**
1
.427**
.027
.302**
.031
-.042
.026
.297**
1
.303**
.261**
-.006
.021
.010
.279**
1
.248**
-.161*
-.061
-.082
.169*
1
-.247**
-.026
-.069
.479**
1
.394**
.489**
-.327**
1
.465**
-.222**
1
-.263**
Life Purpose
Personal
Barriers
Interperson
Barriers
Sociocult
Barriers
Wellness
1
Gender Differences: Mature
Faith Index
170
168
166
164
162
160
158
156
Male
Female
Gender Differences:
Faith Behaviors
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
Male
Female
Gender Differences: Negative
Religious Coping
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Male
Female
Gender Differences: Doubts
8.2
8.1
8
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.4
Male
Female
Gender Differences:
Understanding Vocation
70.5
70
69.5
69
68.5
68
67.5
67
66.5
Male
Female
Gender Differences: Life
Purpose
62
61.5
61
60.5
60
59.5
Male
Female
Gender Differences: Personal
Barriers
25.4
25.3
25.2
25.1
25
24.9
24.8
24.7
24.6
24.5
24.4
Male
Female
Gender Differences:
Sociocultural Barriers
15.4
15.2
15
14.8
14.6
14.4
14.2
14
13.8
13.6
13.4
Male
Female
Gender Differences: Wellness
149
148
147
146
145
144
143
142
141
140
Male
Female
Female Correlations
Faith/
Spiritual
Faith/
Spiritual
Mature
Faith Index
Faith
Behaviors
Understand
Vocation
Discern/
Action
Life
Purpose
Personal
Barriers
Interperson
Barriers
Sociocult
Barriers
Wellness
1
Mature
Faith
Index
Faith
Understand Discern/
Behaviors Vocation
Acton
Life
Purpose
Personal Interperson Sociocult
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Wellness
.767**
.763**
.444**
.055
.448**
-.049
.019
-.024
.394**
1
.741**
.350**
.020
.365**
.019
.042
.039
.464**
1
.303**
-.056
.282**
.041
.002
.053
.221**
1
.327**
.254**
.023
.042
.092
.269**
1
.256**
-.154
-.042
.035
.222**
1
-.187*
.000
-.016
.458**
1
.366**
.453**
-.350**
1
.446**
-.259**
1
-.235**
1
Male Correlations
Faith/
Spiritual
Faith/
Spiritual
Mature
Faith Index
Faith
Behaviors
Understand
Vocation
Discern/
Action
1
Mature
Faith
Index
Faith
Understand Discern/
Behaviors Vocation
Acton
Life
Purpose
Personal Interperson Sociocult
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Wellness
.807**
.845**
.598**
.227*
.327**
.014
-.080
-.079
.414**
1
.843**
.616**
.202
.326**
-.055
-.103
-.109
.460**
1
.584**
.166
.315**
-.005
-.129
-.038
.424**
1
.321**
.278*
-.043
.003
-.106
.316**
1
.249*
-.177
-.099
-.288*
.089
1
-.399**
-.089
-.184
.515**
1
.444**
.562**
-.321**
1
.503**
-.171
1
-.394**
Life Purpose
Personal
Barriers
Interperson
Barriers
Sociocult
Barriers
Wellness
1
First Year Law Student
Life Purpose Survey
Demographics
Gender:
• Female 52.2%
• Male 47.8%
• Sample Size 142
Political Affiliation:
• Democrat 35.7%
• Republican 26.2%
• Independent 21.4%
• Libertarian 9.5%
• Other 7.1%
Religious Preferences:
• Christian 70%
• Agnostic 11.5%
• Atheist 10%
• Jewish 5.4%
• Muslim 1.5%
• Hindu 0.8%
• Other 0.8%
Ethnicity:
• Caucasian 45.1%
• Asian 6.8%
• Latino 6.8%
• African American 4.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native 1.5%
• Multiracial 20.3%
Survey Questions
1. “I am able to integrate my personal values with my professional
skills.” (89.3% agree)
2. “I am able to integrate my faith with my professional skills. (55.9% agree)
3. “I feel prepared to make ethical decisions.” (80.7% agree)
4. “I have mentors and/or professional models that significantly impact my
professional development.” (80% agree)
5. I am currently involved in service activities related to my professional
development.” (35.3% agree)
6. “I would describe my life as having a good work/life balance.” (63.5% agree)
7. “I have a clear plan of action for my professional development while in law
school and beyond.”(56.1% agree)
Correlation: All Students
All
Students
Values
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
Values
1
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
.457**
.414**
.355**
.237**
.328**
.409**
1
.112
.440**
.362**
.364**
.265**
1
.288**
.148
.254**
.358**
1
.356**
.189*
.333**
1
.304**
240**
1
.417**
1
Correlation: Female
Female
Students
Values
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
Values
1
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
.247*
.462**
.352**
.143
.208
.368**
1
.073
.185
.204
.253*
.176
1
.194
.133
.255*
.427**
1
.048
.000
.308*
1
.333**
.303*
1
.438**
1
Correlation: Male
Male
Students
Values
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
Values
1
Faith
Ethical
Mentor
Service
Balance
Plan
.611**
.395**
.360**
.341**
.461**
.438**
1
.123
.538**
.486*
.450**
.333**
1
.330**
.155
.247*
.370**
1
.555**
.291*
.369**
1
.278*
.221
1
.439**
1
Open Ended Questions:
Professional Skills & Faith
1. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you
integrate your personal values with your professional skills.
“My personal values highlight a belief in honestly and integrity, coupled with high
levels of motivation.”
“I try to implement my personal values of respect, tolerance, and kindness in the
professional environment, and I find that this helps me connect with people who
are different than me.”
2. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you
integrate your faith with your professional skills.
“I live a faithful life, but, out of tactfulness, I don't share it too openly, only in
reserved situations or invited situations but it exudes via my behavior.”
“I believe it is even more important to show people who Jesus is rather than
tell them, and by showing love and grace to clients and opposing sides does this.”
Ethics & Mentors
3. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you are
able to make professional ethical decisions.
“I still have plenty to learn in terms of the ethical rules of my profession, but I have
generally a good ethical standing.”
“I'm not 100% prepared just because I don't know what ethical decisions I will be
faced with.”
4. Provide a personal example that illustrates how mentors and/or
professional models have impacted your professional development.
“I have mentors provided by the university as well as ones that I have built
relationships with. They are excellent and I know that I can count on them”
“Student mentors and preceptors have been an amazing resource to have.”
“I am working on cultivating mentors but the process is still in the early stages.”
Service & Balance
5. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you are
involved in service activities related to your professional development.
“This is an area that I need to work on. I am not involved in any significant
activities, and I need to start trying to figure out what to do in this area
“I attend CLA (Christian Legal Aid) and am volunteering with Global Justice I
nitiatives.”
“I've gone to CLA, and I really enjoy it.”
6. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree that your life
reflects a good work/life balance.
“Law school makes this a challenge. Some days I can strike a balance, some
days school overwhelms all attempts at balance.”
“I use my time effectively and have learned to not feel guilty when taking breaks.
It was very challenging as first to take time for myself, but I realized that it is
crucial to my success.”
Plan of Action
7. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you have
a plan of action for your professional development.
“I have already started the process of developing contacts at desirable employers
after law school.”
“At this point, I have general ideas, but no specific plan.”
“I hope to obtain a meaningful leadership position in an organization whose
mission I am passionate about.”
“I know what I want. Not sure how to get there.”
Don Thompson – thompson@pepperdine.edu, x4831
Cindy Miller-Perrin – cperrin@pepperdine.edu, x4027