Student attitudes toward the residence hall program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate student attitudes toward the residence hall program at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The study attempted to determine whether sex of the resident, class standing of the resident, size of the residence hall, age of the head resident, or employment as a student resident assistant significantly affected student attitudes toward the residence hall program. A twenty per cent random sample of the total population of each of the ten residence halls plus the entire staff of residence assistants were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward the residence hall program that were investigated were general hall living conditions, the individual resident, fellow residents, the hall council, the resident assistant, and the head resident. An analysis of variance was used to determine if any significant differences existed between sub-groups in their attitudes toward the six areas of the residence hall program: 1. Resident assistants were more positive than general residents in their attitudes toward general hall living conditions, themselves as individual residents, the resident assistant, and the head resident. 2. Upperclassmen were more positive than underclassmen in their attitudes toward themselves as individual residents, the head resident, and the resident assistant. 3. Female residents expressed more positive attitudes than male residents toward fellow residents and the hall council. 4. Residents of the larger halls were more positive toward fellow residents than residents of the smaller halls. 5. Residents of the smaller halls expressed more positive attitudes toward the resident assistant than residents of the larger halls. 6. Residents of halls administered by a younger head resident expressed more positive attitudes toward the head resident than residents of the other halls.