Using Student Involvement in Value-Added Outcomes Assessment. AIR 1990 Annual Forum Paper.

Four different college classes at a midwestern university were surveyed in both their freshman and their senior years, with data collected from 2,069 students (a 72% response rate). A student involvement questionnaire (IQ) was used to demonstrate the merit of studying student involvement in a value-added outcomes assessment program by defining components of involvement and investigating change from the freshman to the senior year. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed on factors of academic involvement, social involvement, and goal commitment and satisfaction to determine whether significant change from the freshman to the senior year occurred, controlling for students' personal characteristics. Increases in involvement were found in extracurricular activities, satisfaction and commitment, academic contacts with faculty, and academic activities. Decreases in involvement were found in social peer activities. Using student involvement as a value-added outcome in educational assessment is discussed. Contains 39 references. (GLR)