Federal Research Study Examines 289 Freshmen

A quarter of the freshman class is currently involved in a pioneer study of the College's influence on student values and attitudes.

"We want to know how Harvard affects its students in their ideas, their relationships with other people, and their feelings about themselves," according to Stanley H. King, director of the project.

Supported by a $425,000 government grant, "Student Study" will follow its 289 participants throughout their four years at the College. It is one of the first major research projects concerned with the college environment as a factor in the development of the student.

Past studies have examined either the attitudes of individual students, apart from the influence of their college environment; or the social structure of the college, without reference to its effect on student attitudes.

King, who is associate director of research for the University Health Services, emphasized that the project is concerned with a cross-section of the freshman class, rather than students who are emotionally abnormal, or students with any particular social or economic background.

The Study is being conducted on two levels. All the participants will take a series of 25 "paper and pencil" tests, but a small group of 50 will take additional tests, including the Rorschach ink-blot test, and will be interviewed by King and other members of the Study staff through the year.

King stressed the importance of the smaller group. "If you're going to make a study of change," he said, "you must have a large group and gross variables, but the interviews with members of the smaller group give a picture of all aspects of a student. You can think of him as an individual, not just a group of categories."

Take Imagination Test

An "imagination test" was first on the list for all the students. The students were allowed 20 seconds to look at slides of familiar college scenes, and four minutes to construct stories around them.

"We can find patterns in how they structure their collegiate world," said Charles E. Bidwell, research sociologist to the University Health Services. A student might make up several stories which showed a particular concern about grades, for example.

Discussing the usefulness of the Study, Bidwell pointed out that it's purpose is to acquire knowledge, without regard to its immediate usefulness in shaping College programs. He expressed hope, however, that Harvard and other universities could use the results.