IMPORTANCE(a)(b) EFFECTIVENESS(b)
in of Difference
undergraduate education Penn State education Effectiveness
Not Very Not Very minus
Important Important Effective Effective Importance
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) N Avg (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) N Avg
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -----
0 5 27 122 771 925 4.8 Using computer and information technology 55 116 257 279 221 928 3.5 -1.3
0 2 18 140 768 928 4.8 Writing ability 13 62 263 400 193 931 3.7 -1.1
1 9 40 150 728 928 4.7 Speaking ability 21 110 295 327 177 930 3.6 -1.1
0 2 39 256 628 925 4.6 Acquiring new skills and knowledge 3 44 196 398 288 929 4.0 -.6
0 4 63 249 611 927 4.6 Making logical, rational judgements 16 89 316 360 146 927 3.6 -1.0
1 10 77 287 554 929 4.5 Contributing as part of a team 19 77 241 341 252 930 3.8 -.7
1 6 106 323 488 924 4.4 Integrating various types of information 5 68 297 387 165 922 3.7 -.7
8 24 110 223 555 920 4.4 Life long learning 28 81 295 288 229 921 3.7 -.7
3 17 111 307 488 926 4.4 Producing independent work 12 48 216 368 283 927 3.9 -.5
6 16 130 321 451 924 4.3 Understanding a particular field or discipline 14 35 210 392 274 925 3.9 -.4
4 19 174 362 365 924 4.2 Analyzing quantitative information 14 69 320 340 182 925 3.7 -.5
30 51 160 252 429 922 4.1 Making moral decisions 102 194 340 191 93 920 3.0 -1.1
33 68 168 259 398 926 4.0 Functioning in a culturally diverse society 62 152 297 260 154 925 3.3 -.7
7 64 272 334 247 924 3.8 Understanding scientific approaches 21 97 332 305 166 921 3.5 -.3
20 62 242 339 262 925 3.8 Understanding the arts, sciences, & humanities 17 83 324 321 177 922 3.6 -.2
25 98 310 281 211 925 3.6 Enhancing personal and community health 72 195 394 168 94 923 3.0 -.6
49 135 311 247 171 913 3.4 Functioning across international boundaries 147 295 282 131 52 907 2.6 -.8
34 135 360 273 112 914 3.3 Understanding and appreciating aesthetics 63 193 391 199 71 917 3.0 -.3
76 160 336 214 134 920 3.2 Understanding a foreign language 243 206 256 122 67 894 2.5 -.7
a) Data sorted by highest score for importance in undergraduate education.
b) Average represents weighted average by category, weighted 1 to 5, left to right.