Offers framework of 15 research methods varying by cost and expertise to promote more systematic approach to conducting student life research. Focuses on need for student life research. Most standard social science methods are discussed. Examples of research conducted by the Student Affairs Research, Information, and Systems Office at the…

Examines the creation and operation of the Office of Student Affairs Research, Information, and Systems (SARIS) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Describes how SARIS came into being, how to identify and prioritize research, how to collect data, how to disseminate findings, and how administrators use the data in making policy…

Describes focus group application in student affairs assessment and offers suggestions on conducting groups and using results. Concludes that focus groups can overcome limitations of quantitative designs, such as limited scope of response or profiles of "average" persons who do not really exist; be used to help design or supplement quantitative…

Demonstrates how perceptual mapping techniques can be used to examine campus perceptions of African American and White students at a predominantly White institution. Reports on data collection methods and influencing factors, such as familiar locations. Provides results of a survey of 411 students, detailing initial perceptions and the validity of…

Ten new student affairs professionals participated in this longitudinal study of their first year on the job. This qualitative study used online data collection. Participants submitted monthly responses to open-ended prompts inquiring about their experiences, challenges, and surprises. Over three time phases (Pre-Employment and Orientation,…

Discusses difficulties faced by student services professionals when conducting assessments and evaluations. Demonstrates the applicability of telephone surveys to meet assessment and evaluation data collection needs, comparing telephone surveying to traditional data collection techniques. Outlines steps in telephone survey planning. (Author/NB)

To reduce alcohol-impaired driving among college students, some university officials have organized safe ride programs for their campuses. Such programs provide transportation for students from local bars and restaurants to campus-area housing. In June 2001, Midwestern University (MU) initiated a safe ride program, the Midnight Special, as part…

A content analysis of 20 student conduct codes identified through stratified random sampling was performed to determine the extent to which legal terminology had been eliminated, as suggested by judicial affairs experts. The results showed that 80% of the codes selected in this study still contained some legal terms. These words and phrases are…

Today's colleges and universities operate in a complex environment characterized by rapid and unrelenting change, and nowhere do the challenges inherent in change more directly impact students than in the delivery of student services. The need to integrate new models of service delivery, data-driven approaches to enrollment management, greater…

The freshmen transition is a crucial time when students make health choices in their physical activities, eating behaviors, and stress management skills. A consortium of student affairs staff created and implemented an introduction to the wellness program through freshmen orientation classes. The program included a health behaviors assessment,…