Representatives from the Wabash National Study, which focuses on factors affecting the outcome of a liberal arts education, will be visiting Brandeis tomorrow through Friday in an effort to compile qualitative data to supplement the quantitative data collected by the study thus far, according to Provost Marty Krauss. The Wabash National Study is, according to the Brandeis website, "a large-scale, longitudinal study to investigate critical factors that affect the outcomes of liberal arts education."

The study currently includes 49 institutions of higher learning. According to the Brandeis website, the study focused on seven areas: critical thinking, need for cognition, interest in and attitudes about diversity, leadership, moral reasoning, well-being and integration of learning.

In an e-mail to the Justice, Krauss wrote that Brandeis' involvement with the study began in fall 2008, when first-years, along with the 2009 midyears, participated in the study.

The Wabash study is longitudinal, meaning that it aims to study the same people at different times throughout their college experience. At the beginning of the 2008 to 2009 academic year, 62 percent of the incoming class completed the study, according to the Brandeis website.

When the second part of the study was conducted in the spring of 2009, 29 percent of those who participated in the first part of the study were present.

Among 2009 midyear students, 85 percent completed the first part of the study, while 25 percent of that group was present for the second part. Students who have completed both parts will be asked to participate in the study again at the end of their senior years in the final installment of the study.

Findings from the quantitative data claim that 40 percent of Brandeis students spend between 21 and 30 hours a week preparing for class. The data also show that 68 percent agree that courses at Brandeis have "helped them understand the historical, political and social connections of past events." Additionally, while 17 percent often attend class without completing assignments, the data reveal that, in comparison with other students participating in the Wabash survey, Brandeis students are "more interested in collaboration, citizenship, political and social involvement, and diversity issues."

Krauss wrote that the representatives are now seeking qualitative data to supplement these findings because "qualitative data obtained through focus groups is often very helpful in putting 'meat' on the statistical data." She wrote that qualitative data often provide more insight and depth into the meaning of the statistical data.

"The results of the focus groups would not change the statistical results-they are what they are-but could be very helpful in understanding them better," Krauss wrote.

Krauss explained in her e-mail that in an effort to obtain this qualitative data, representatives from the Wabash study will hold three sessions for focus groups on Wednesday. She wrote that the focus groups will start at 5 p.m. and will take place in Room 317 of the Shapiro Campus Center.

According to Krauss, the purpose of the focus groups is to discuss with students the results of the study and find out how they interpret the findings represented by the data.

Krauss also wrote that the representatives are having dinner in Sherman Hall at 6 p.m. that same day in hopes that they will interact with students during dinner.

Krauss explained that she hoped 15 to 20 students would participate in each of the focus groups.

She wrote that the representatives from the Wabash study would like to talk with students from all years, regardless of whether they have been involved in the study previously or not, in order to get a complete picture of the study's findings.





-Alana Abramson contributed reporting.