Social Interaction on Campus: Differences among Self-Perceived Ability Groups. AIR 1995 Annual Forum Paper.

This study explored connections between perceived academic ability level, academic and social involvement, and interaction across race/ethnicity in informal campus situations. Data were obtained from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program 1987 freshmen survey and 1991 followup survey and the Higher Education Research Institute faculty survey scales on faculty perceptions of campus climate. The sample consisted of 4,138 White, African American, Latino, and Asian American students attending 291 four-year institutions. Students who rated themselves among the highest ability categories at college entry were more likely to enroll in honors programs, be elected to a student office, and become resident advisors. Students who rated themselves in the lowest and the middle categories of ability were more likely to be employed off campus, join a fraternity/sorority, and spend more time partying. Students who rated themselves as low ability were more likely to participate in intercollegiate sports and spend time socializing with friends. High ability students were more likely than medium and low ability groups to frequently dine, study, room with, and date someone of a different racial/ethnic background. Students who rated themselves in the lowest ability category were least likely to interact across race or ethnicity. (Contains 31 references.) (SW)