Released Time for Faculty Advising: The Impact upon Freshmen

During the academic years 1964-65 and 1965-66, six Macalester College faculty members were given released time to devote to academic advising. One hundred-twenty “experimental group” freshmen were randomly selected from the classes entering Macalester in the fall of 1964 and 1965 and were assigned (10 men and 10 women) to each adviser. The remaining freshmen in each class comprised the “control group” and were assigned to advisers with full teaching loads. Data collected in the spring of 1966 indicated that the students in the experimental group were more satisfied with their faculty advisers, but there were no significant differences between the two groups on: (a) rate of retention; (b) grade point average; (c) level of aspiration; (d) satisfaction with college; (e) perception of the campus.     

Note on computation of bi-serial correlations in item evaluation

By the use of an algebraic variant of the ordinary formula for bi-serial correlation, tables, and graphic devices, a time-saving systematic procedure for the computation of bi-serial correlation co-efficients is outlined for application to the evaluation of items of a test. A table of z for arguments ofp=.000 top=.999 is given.     

An exploratory analysis of sex differences in gossip

This study examined sex differences in the quantity, targets, tone, and topics of gossip in the conversations of 76 male and 120 female college students. Contrary to popular beliefs, results indicated that the gossip of men and women contained similarities as well as differences. The data revealed that women spent more time gossiping than men and that women were much more likely than men to gossip about close friends and family members. However, no significant sex differences were uncovered regarding the derogatory tone of gossip and men and women were found to gossip about many of the same topics.We are grateful to Karl Seman, Marilla Ross, Robin Ansher, and Jack Schmaly, who served as observers during the data-collection phase of the study, and to Richard Weiner, who conducted the statistical analysis. We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by Ralph L. Rosnow.