Differences Between High Ability Sophomores and Sophomores in General at the University of Maryland - Research Report 7-70

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher

Study examines whether high-ability sophomores at the University of Maryland differ from sophomores in general in responses to the 1969 University Student Census (USC). Responses from 359 high-ability sophomores, defined by SAT scores over 599 in both verbal and mathematics, are compared with USC responses of 6,293 sophomores representing about 99% of the class. The findings indicate high-ability students more often live in residence halls, enjoy academic work more, hold higher graduate-study aspirations, and show different attitudes toward the university and recruiting of Black students, including perceiving more racism.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Method

Group A: High ability sophomores

Group B: Sophomores in general

ED 163879 AUTHOR TITLE INSTITUTION PUB DATE NOTE EDRS PR ICE DESCR IPTORS IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT DOCU8E8T RBSUUE Collins,Anne M.;Sedlacek,Nillian E. Differences Between High Ability sophomores andSophomores in General at the University of Maryland.Research Report No,7-70. Maryland Univ.i College Park.Counseling Cen ter.7011p. MP-$0.83 HC-$1.67 Plus Postage. Academic Achievement;*Acade mic Aptitude;AverageStudents;*College Students;Comparative Analysis;*High Achievers;Higher Education;InstitutionalResearch;Research Projects;*School Surveys;StateUniversities;*Student Ability;*Student Attitudes;Student Characteristics;Undergraduate Students*Maryland university College Park A.Study was conducted at the University of Marylandto determine if high ability sophomores differed from sophomores ingeneral on their responses to the 1969 University Student Census(0SC).The Tesponses of 359 high ability sophomores,defined as thosewith Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT)scotes over 599 on both Verbaland Ma thematics,were compared with 0Sc responses of 6,293 sophomoreswho represented about 99 percent of the class.Respon ses of the highability group were also included in the overall group,High abilitysophomores tended to live nore often in residence halls,enjoyedacademic work more,had higher aspirations for graduate study,weremore critical of the university,were more positive in theirattitudes toward recruiting black students,and saw四ore racism atthe university than sophomores in general.(Author/SW) ************************************************************************ Reprod uctions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * on the oEginal docunent … … ED163879 E 751 COUNSELING CENTEROffice of Vice President for Student Affairs UNIVERSITY OF MARYLANDCollege Park,Maryland D¹FFERENCES BETWEEN HIGH ABILITY SOPHOMORES ANDSOPHOMORES IN GENERAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Anne M.Collins and William E.SedlacekResearch Report \#!7-70 PiB11;&IN TO FEPFOLCE THIS.ATEB41 HA5 EEEN GRANTED BY Us DEP鑫RTMENTOF NEALTHEOuCATi0N WELE⁴ 6NATIONAL INSTITUTE OEDuCATION 2( 415 DoruyF NI H△S BEEN REPRO 0.FO·x4(ILY A5 RECEIVEO FROMTME P6k5ON OR oRGANIZA1ION ORIGIN·AT,NGr P0INT50E yIE w nR0pINI0NT△rfD p0 NOr NFCE⁵549ILY REPRE5F t QFEIIAt.A4tuON fN⁵11u o⁴FDu411ON Po51T1ON ◎9 PoLIC T·1 TH ETHATIONAL RESOURCFS17F(H,1六T10N 6.ENTEE IEIIC)AJD),FiSr THF EIB1C SYSTFL1 《 Summary The purpose of the study was to determine if high ability sophomoresat the University of Maryland differed from other University of Marylandstudents on their responses to the 1969 University Student Census(USC).Theresponses of 359 high ability sophomores,defincd as those with ScholasticAptitude Test(SAT)scores over 599 on both Verbal and Mathematics,werecompared with USC responses of 6,293 sophomores in general.High abilitysophomores tended to live more in res idence hal1s,ehjoyed academic work more,had higher aspirations for graduate study,were more critical of the Univer-sity,were more pos itive in the ir attitudes toward recruiting black studentsand saw more racism at the University than sophomores in general. High aptitude students have received considerable attention fron re-searchers in educatipn in the last ten years. Mosi of the attention,however,has been focused on the academic achievement or non-achievement of high apti-tude students.Very little research has dealt wi th thc non-ac ademic character-istics and perceptions of bright students. The recent studies of subcultures on campus(Feldman,and Newcomb,1969)have shown that students of different backgrounds _and abilities have.divergcntperceptions of their environments on non-academic as well as academic parame-ters!Research has uncovered differences between bright students and studentsin genera!on personality characteristics,reasons for attending universitie's,and perceptions of the uni versity environment (Max.e11,1962;Mason,Adams andBlood,1968;Gott

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study?

To determine whether high-ability sophomores at the University of Maryland differed from other university students in their responses to the 1969 University Student Census (USC).

How were high-ability sophomores defined?

They were defined as sophomores with Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores over 599 on both the verbal and mathematics tests.

What differences did the study find between the two groups?

High-ability sophomores tended to live more often in residence halls, enjoy academic work more, have higher graduate-study aspirations, be more critical of the university, and report different attitudes toward recruiting Black students and perceived racism.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher