According to data that emerged as a byproduct of a total study designed to measure the impact of higher education on the student, students are likely to find greater understanding from their parents on many current issues than from fellow students at another college. Student and parent opinions, as perceived by students, were collected from 3 colleges: (1) a highly selective institution drawing students mainly from the upper socioeconomic levels. Parents were liberal in their political-social outlook and belonged mainly to the Democratic Party. (2) an institution in which students, parental occupations and incomes were typically middle class. Parents were mostly Republicans and Protestants. (3) a public institution drawing students from a metropolitan area. Few parents were college educated; most were bluecollar workers, Democrats and Catholic. On issues such as: Supreme Court decisions on civil rights, the Vietnam war, aid to minority groups, general welfare programs, the House Un-American Activities Committee, the use of cigarettes, alcohol, LSD and Marijuana, artistic, financial and intellectual interest humanitarian ideals, politics, religion, recreation and vocational pursuits, students faithfully reflected the attitudes of their parents. While many parents may not understand other people's children, there is little support for the popular notion of a generation gap. The evidence strongly suggests that the attitude and interest gaps shown are less related to age than to the strata of American society. (JS)