College Situation and Student Orientations 1992/93

College situation and student orientation.
Topics:
1.) subject and access to university:
first or second course of studies;
subject combination;
semester of practical experience;
degree sought;
type of qualification for university or entitlement;
state in which qualification for university acquired;
time span between acquisition of the qualification for university
and start of studies;
average grade in final examination;
training before and activity after acquisition of qualification for university.
2.) choice of training and expectations of studies:
characterization of situation before start of course of studies;
types of universities considered in making decision;
motives for choice of studies;
extent to which informed about selected questions of university study;
assessment of the usefulness of a change of university,
research practical training, studies abroad, specialization,
inter-disciplinary studies, practical work experience outside of the university,
occupational training, involvement in university policy,
rapid studies conclusion,
supplemental qualification through second course of studies or
doctorate for personal development and to improve employment prospects;
personal benefit of university study;
preference for studies oriented toward inclinations or later employment chances;
characterization of personal major field and the demands it makes.
3.) Course of studies and instruction:
teaching situation in one's subject area;
quality of events attended and lecturers in current semester;
judging these regarding understandability, relevance to practice and clarity;
participation in inter-disciplinary courses;
type of impediment experienced due to too many students in current semester.
4.) learning and work habits:
work techniques mastered regarding optimum learning and studying;
learning practices;
fear of examinations and time burden from studies;
regimentation of studies;
professed and actual program of studies;
loss of semesters from organizational rulings such as
insufficient teaching staff or examinations not passed.
5.) Path of studies and course of studies:
intermediate examination passed and average grade;
self-evaluation of one's own study achievements;
employment as student assistant or tutor;
time expenditures for various activities relevant to studies;
relevance of employment to studies.
6.) questions on situation of students in life:
manner of financing studies;
adequate financial means and money available monthly;
proportion of student aid;
activities during the last semester vacation, such as e.g.
trips or practical training;
difficulties in the search for housing;
actual and preferred studies situation;
judgement on current housing situation;
reasons for choice of university;
desired university;
change of major subject;
change of university;
studies abroad;
interruption of studies;
practical training abroad;
participation in research projects;
planned course of studies and considered change of major
or termination of studies;
number of university semesters;
number of major semesters;
probable number of major semesters for degree.
7.) contact and communication:
description of frequency of contact with friends outside of the university,
family members, students of one's subject or other subjects, assistents,
foreign students, professors and persons from future field of occupation;
desire for increased contacts with these groups;
satisfaction with contacts with fellow students and instructors;
counseling and support by instructors;
frequency of use of support and counseling;
importance of support and counseling in selected areas of studies;
personal experience of the studies situation;
participation in activities of selected university groups;
preferred tasks for the student representation;
representation of personal university political views by the current ASTA;
student representation by the students of the department;
perceived differences in the university situation of men and women;
demand for improvement in the situation of women at the university.
8. experiences and problems of studies:
judgement on the structure,
quality and organization of personal course of studies;
perceived social, technical and intellectual promotion during studies;
extent of personal difficulties and burdens during studies;
judgement on student aid support under various aspects;
most important changes to improve personal studies situation;
reasons for or against a doctorate after the examination;
talks with university instructor about possible doctorate intents or
acceptance of a position as assistent;
satisfaction with decision for selected field of studies or
interest in other training;
aspects of student life;
significance of studies in current situation in life or studies orientation;
evaluation of aspects of student life and satisfaction with being a student.
9.) ideas about university and science:
measures appropriate to reduce the duration of studies;
preferred goals of a university reform;
attitude to selected forms of university political protest or criticism;
attitude to technical progress.
10.) role and chances of university graduates:
heigher responsibility of university graduates regarding society;
specifying particular characteristics and capabilities of university graduates
in comparison to non-academics;
attitude to increased income and social status of university graduates;
perceived changes of chances of upward social mobility for academics.
11.) choice and concepts of profession;
occupational value concepts and activity area sought;
regional preference for employment;
employment prospects in the new or old states
and in the EC for one's course of studies;
efforts for a job;
perceived alternatives given job market difficulties.
12.) attitude to various areas of life:
importance of areas of life;
preference for work or family from the point of view of the respondent
as well as his partner;
preference for full-time or part-time work;
judgement on equal chances for men and women in the field of occupation sought
regarding salary and occupational advancement;
change of values in the new states since the times of the GDR;
interest in politics in the area of general politics
as well as interest in questions of university policy;
attitude to democracy and the political system in the Federal Republic (scale);
evaluation of statements about opportunities to participate in politics;
personal agreement with basic political directions;
attitude to selected political goals;
extent of realization of general social and democratic goals in the old
or new states;
self-classification on a left-right continuum in comparison to various groups;
assessment of social differences in the country;
legitimation of social inequality;
attitude to achievement orientation and the principle of competition;
dominance of advantages or disadvantages from German unification;
judging selected statements about German unity and the GDR;
progress and steps backwards from German unification;
extent to which informed about the current European integration;
expected consequences from European integration (scale).
Demography:
age in years;
sex;
marital status;
number of children;
city of studies and home town;
social origins.