NSSE 2019 Topical Module Report Experiences with Writing University of Houston-Downtown
IPEDS: 225432
This page intentionally left blank.
2 • NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Administration Summary
University of Houston-Downtown About This Topical Module This module is the result of an ongoing collaboration between NSSE and the Council of Writing Program Administrators. The questions touch on three aspects of good writing assignments—interactivity, meaning-making, and clarity. It complements questions on the core survey about how much writing students do, the nature of their course assignments, and perceived gains in written expression. Complementary FSSE set available.
Comparison Group This section summarizes how this module's comparison group was identified, including selection criteria and whether the default option was taken. This is followed by the resulting list of institutions represented in the 'Texas Schools' column of this report.
Group label
Texas Schools
Date submitted
5/13/19
How was this comparison group constructed?
Your institution customized this comparison group by selecting institutions from all module participants.
Group description
Texas Public 4-year Institutions similar in demographics, size and/or level as UHD.
Texas Schools (N=5) Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX) Texas A&M International University (Laredo, TX)* Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Killeen, TX) Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, TX) Texas College (Tyler, TX)
*2018 participant
NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT • 3
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
University of Houston-Downtown First-Year Students Frequency Distributions UHD Item wording or description
Variable name
a
Texas Schools
Statistical Comparisons UHD
Texas Schools
Mean
Mean
size
3.2
3.1
.09
3.3
3.2
.06
3.2
3.1
.10
3.5
3.3 *
.21
Effect Values
c
Response options
Count
%
Count
%
d
1. During the current school year, for how many writing assignments have you done the following? a. Talked with a classmate, friend, or family member to develop your ideas before starting your assignment
WRI01a
1
No writing assignments
13
8
51
8
2
Few writing assignments
33
18
123
20
3
Some writing assignments
54
31
212
31
4
Most writing assignments
55
31
193
30
5 b. Received feedback from a classmate, friend, or family member about a draft before turning in your final assignment
WRI01b
WRI01c
e. Analyzed or evaluated something you read, researched, or observed
WRI01d
WRI01e
WRI01f
WRI01g
10 100
10
5
44
8
Few writing assignments
35
20
129
20
3
Some writing assignments
50
30
185
29
4
Most writing assignments
59
33
199
30
All writing assignments
24
12
93
13
Total
178
100
650
100
1
No writing assignments
12
7
40
7
2
Few writing assignments
28
15
140
22
3
Some writing assignments
61
36
224
35
4
Most writing assignments
54
30
174
26
All writing assignments
23
12
75
11
Total
178
100
653
100
1
No writing assignments
6
4
28
5
2
Few writing assignments
23
13
102
17
3
Some writing assignments
48
28
231
36
4
Most writing assignments
70
37
210
32
5
All writing assignments
31
17
82
12
Total
100
178
100
653
1
No writing assignments
4
3
17
3
2
Few writing assignments
15
9
70
11
3
Some writing assignments
41
24
199
31
4
Most writing assignments
81
44
256
39
All writing assignments
36
20
109
16
Total
177
100
651
100
1
No writing assignments
15
8
81
12
2
Few writing assignments
31
18
124
20
3
Some writing assignments
52
29
204
31
4
Most writing assignments
60
34
157
24
5 g. Argued a position using evidence and reasoning
75 654
No writing assignments
5 f. Described your methods or findings related to data you collected in lab or field work, a survey project, etc.
13 100
2
5 d. Summarized material you read such as articles, books, or online publications
23 178
1
5 c. Given feedback to a classmate about a draft or outline
All writing assignments Total
All writing assignments
19
10
84
12
Total
177
100
650
100
1
No writing assignments
4
3
48
7
2
Few writing assignments
18
11
103
16
3
Some writing assignments
40
23
204
32
4
Most writing assignments
81
45
205
32
5
All writing assignments
34
18
88
13
Total
177
100
648
100
*p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed); Refer to the endnotes page for the key to triangle symbols. 4 • NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT
△
3.7
3.5
.15
3.2
3.0
.14
3.7
3.3 ***
.34
▲
b
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
University of Houston-Downtown First-Year Students Frequency Distributions UHD Item wording or description
h. Explained in writing the meaning of numerical or statistical data
Values
WRI01h
1 2
WRI01i
WRI01j
c
Count
%
Count
%
No writing assignments
36
20
138
20
Few writing assignments
38
22
165
27
3
Some writing assignments
44
24
170
27
4
Most writing assignments
43
25
124
19
Response options
All writing assignments
15
8
52
7
Total
176
100
649
100 12
1
No writing assignments
30
18
82
2
Few writing assignments
34
19
132
20
3
Some writing assignments
45
25
177
27
4
Most writing assignments
50
28
173
28
5 j. Addressed a real or imagined audience such as your classmates, a politician, non‐experts, etc.
Texas Schools
Statistical Comparisons UHD
Texas Schools
Mean
Mean
size
2.8
2.7
.09
2.9
3.1
-.14
3.2
3.0 *
.17
b
Effect
Variable name
5 i. Written in the style and format of a specific field (engineering, history, psychology, etc.)
a
All writing assignments
18
9
86
13
Total
177
100
650
100 13
1
No writing assignments
20
12
89
2
Few writing assignments
28
17
143
22
3
Some writing assignments
55
30
197
31
4
Most writing assignments
48
28
155
25
5
All writing assignments
25
14
64
9
Total
176
100
648
100
d
△
2. During the current school year, for how many of your writing assignments have your instructors done the following? a. Provided clear instructions describing what they wanted you to do
WRI02a
1
No writing assignments
4
3
19
3
2
Few writing assignments
13
8
51
8
3
Some writing assignments
39
21
156
24
4
Most writing assignments
80
45
242
37
5 b. Explained in advance what they wanted you to learn
WRI02b
WRI02c
39
23
180
28
175
100
648
100
1
No writing assignments
4
3
25
4
2
Few writing assignments
11
6
68
11
3
Some writing assignments
50
28
169
26
4
Most writing assignments
70
39
218
33
5 c. Explained in advance the criteria they would use to grade your assignment
All writing assignments Total
All writing assignments
42
24
168
27
Total
177
100
648
100
1
No writing assignments
4
3
23
4
2
Few writing assignments
14
9
48
7
3
Some writing assignments
38
21
142
23
4
Most writing assignments
61
34
207
30
5
All writing assignments
61
34
229
36
Total
178
100
649
100
*p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed); Refer to the endnotes page for the key to triangle symbols.
3.8
3.8
-.04
3.8
3.7
.07
3.9
3.9
.01
NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT • 5
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
University of Houston-Downtown Seniors Frequency Distributions UHD Item wording or description
Variable name
a
Texas Schools
Statistical Comparisons UHD
Texas Schools
Mean
Mean
size
2.9
3.1 *
-.10
Effect Values
c
Response options
Count
%
Count
%
11
d
1. During the current school year, for how many writing assignments have you done the following? a. Talked with a classmate, friend, or family member to develop your ideas before starting your assignment
WRI01a
1
No writing assignments
143
14
87
2
Few writing assignments
219
21
175
20
3
Some writing assignments
335
32
258
31
4
Most writing assignments
248
23
233
27
5
All writing assignments
107
10
87
11
1,052
100
840
100
1
No writing assignments
208
21
118
14
2
Few writing assignments
237
22
185
22
3
Some writing assignments
306
29
254
31
4
Most writing assignments
222
21
185
22
Total b. Received feedback from a classmate, friend, or family member about a draft before turning in your final assignment
WRI01b
5
All writing assignments Total
c. Given feedback to a classmate about a draft or outline
WRI01c
WRI01e
24
167
241
23
173
20
3
Some writing assignments
313
30
280
33
4
Most writing assignments
200
19
155
18
All writing assignments
8 100
101
11
49
6
Few writing assignments
162
15
123
15
3
Some writing assignments
340
32
265
32
4
Most writing assignments
306
29
281
33
5
All writing assignments
140
13
116
14 100
1,049
100
834
1
No writing assignments
69
7
32
4
2
Few writing assignments
112
11
98
12
3
Some writing assignments
276
27
212
25
4
Most writing assignments
395
37
334
39
195
19
163
20
1,047
100
839
100 14
All writing assignments
1
No writing assignments
177
18
112
2
Few writing assignments
177
17
127
15
3
Some writing assignments
289
27
265
32
4
Most writing assignments
277
26
226
27
126
12
105
13
1,046
100
835
100 13
All writing assignments
1
No writing assignments
163
16
106
2
Few writing assignments
165
15
148
17
3
Some writing assignments
293
28
267
32
4
Most writing assignments
300
28
210
25
128
12
107
13
1,049
100
838
100
5
All writing assignments Total
*p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed); Refer to the endnotes page for the key to triangle symbols. 6 • NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT
63 838
No writing assignments
Total WRI01g
5 100
2
5 g. Argued a position using evidence and reasoning
53 1,048
1
Total WRI01f
21
241
Few writing assignments
5 f. Described your methods or findings related to data you collected in lab or field work, a survey project, etc.
11 100
No writing assignments
Total e. Analyzed or evaluated something you read, researched, or observed
88 830
2
Total WRI01d
8 100
1
5 d. Summarized material you read such as articles, books, or online publications
77 1,050
▽
2.7
2.9 ***
-.18
▽
2.6
2.7 **
-.11
▽
3.2
3.3 **
-.13
▽
3.5
3.6 *
-.08
▽
3.0
3.1 *
-.10
▽
3.0
3.1
-.02
b
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
University of Houston-Downtown Seniors Frequency Distributions UHD Item wording or description
h. Explained in writing the meaning of numerical or statistical data
Values
WRI01h
1
No writing assignments
2
Few writing assignments
3
Some writing assignments
4
Most writing assignments
c
Response options
All writing assignments Total
WRI01i
WRI01j
Count
%
Count
%
249
24
168
20
208
20
185
22
295
28
235
28
218
21
167
20
71
7
78
9
1,041
100
833
100 13
1
No writing assignments
205
20
110
2
Few writing assignments
184
17
103
12
3
Some writing assignments
221
21
183
22
4
Most writing assignments
260
25
232
28
5
All writing assignments
176
16
208
25
Total j. Addressed a real or imagined audience such as your classmates, a politician, non‐experts, etc.
Texas Schools
Statistical Comparisons UHD
Texas Schools
Mean
Mean
size
2.8 *
-.08
b
Effect
Variable name
5 i. Written in the style and format of a specific field (engineering, history, psychology, etc.)
a
1,046
100
836
100
1
No writing assignments
230
23
150
18
2
Few writing assignments
195
19
169
20
3
Some writing assignments
301
28
245
30
4
Most writing assignments
224
21
177
22
5
All writing assignments
97
9
94
11
1,047
100
835
100
Total
2.7
d
▽
3.0
3.4 ***
-.29
▽
2.8
2.9 *
-.10
▽
2. During the current school year, for how many of your writing assignments have your instructors done the following? a. Provided clear instructions describing what they wanted you to do
WRI02a
1
No writing assignments
46
5
27
2
Few writing assignments
101
10
74
9
3
Some writing assignments
224
21
156
19
4
Most writing assignments
367
34
325
39
5
All writing assignments
312
30
254
30
1,050
100
836
100
1
No writing assignments
56
6
42
5
2
Few writing assignments
110
11
81
10
3
Some writing assignments
239
23
187
23
4
Most writing assignments
362
34
272
33
Total b. Explained in advance what they wanted you to learn
WRI02b
5
All writing assignments Total
c. Explained in advance the criteria they would use to grade your assignment
WRI02c
4
283
27
252
29
1,050
100
834
100 4
1
No writing assignments
50
5
30
2
Few writing assignments
83
8
55
6
3
Some writing assignments
191
18
155
18
4
Most writing assignments
317
30
271
33
406
39
325
39
1,047
100
836
100
5
All writing assignments Total
*p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed); Refer to the endnotes page for the key to triangle symbols.
3.7
3.8 *
-.08
▽
3.7
3.7
-.05
3.9
4.0
-.07
NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT • 7
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Detailed Statistics
e
University of Houston-Downtown First-Year Students Effect
Standard N
Mean
Variable name
UHD
UHD
WRI01a
175
WRI01b
Standard error
f
deviation
g
DF
h
Sig.
i
sized
Comparisons with: Texas Schools
UHD
Texas Schools
UHD
Texas Schools
3.23
3.13
.085
.033
1.13
1.11
1,303
.287
.09
175
3.27
3.20
.082
.034
1.08
1.15
1,295
.465
.06
WRI01c
175
3.24
3.12
.081
.032
1.08
1.08
1,301
.197
.10
WRI01d
175
3.50
3.29
.080
.030
1.06
1.02
1,301
.011
.21
WRI01e
175
3.69
3.54
.075
.029
0.98
0.98
1,298
.067
.15
WRI01f
175
3.20
3.04
.083
.036
1.10
1.19
1,295
.088
.14
WRI01g
175
3.66
3.29
.075
.033
0.99
1.09
244
.000
.34
WRI01h
173
2.78
2.68
.095
.036
1.25
1.20
1,292
.284
.09
WRI01i
175
2.92
3.09
.095
.036
1.26
1.21
1,294
.083
-.14
WRI01j
173
3.15
2.95
.091
.035
1.20
1.16
1,289
.034
.17
WRI02a
173
3.77
3.80
.075
.031
0.98
1.02
1,290
.656
-.04
WRI02b
175
3.75
3.68
.074
.033
0.98
1.09
245
.387
.07
WRI02c
175
3.88
3.87
.080
.033
1.06
1.10
1,295
.941
.01
See the endnotes on the last page of this report. 8 • NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT
Texas Schools
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Detailed Statistics
e
University of Houston-Downtown Seniors Effect
Standard N
Mean
Variable name
UHD
UHD
WRI01a
1,051
WRI01b
Standard error
f
deviation
g
DF
h
Sig.
i
sized
Comparisons with: Texas Schools
UHD
Texas Schools
UHD
Texas Schools
2.93
3.05
.037
.031
1.19
1.15
2,401
.012
-.10
1,048
2.72
2.93
.038
.033
1.22
1.20
2,233
.000
-.18
WRI01c
1,046
2.59
2.72
.037
.033
1.19
1.20
2,392
.008
-.11
WRI01d
1,047
3.19
3.34
.036
.030
1.17
1.08
2,384
.002
-.13
WRI01e
1,045
3.49
3.59
.035
.029
1.13
1.06
2,171
.044
-.08
WRI01f
1,043
2.97
3.09
.039
.033
1.27
1.22
2,190
.021
-.10
WRI01g
1,047
3.05
3.07
.039
.033
1.26
1.21
2,198
.612
-.02
WRI01h
1,039
2.67
2.77
.038
.034
1.24
1.24
2,376
.049
-.08
WRI01i
1,043
3.01
3.40
.043
.036
1.37
1.33
2,385
.000
-.29
WRI01j
1,044
2.76
2.88
.039
.034
1.27
1.25
2,219
.015
-.10
WRI02a
1,048
3.75
3.84
.035
.029
1.13
1.06
2,175
.047
-.08
WRI02b
1,048
3.65
3.71
.036
.031
1.15
1.15
2,386
.216
-.05
WRI02c
1,045
3.89
3.96
.036
.029
1.16
1.08
2,162
.118
-.07
See the endnotes on the last page of this report.
Texas Schools
NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT • 9
NSSE 2019 Experiences with Writing Endnotes
University of Houston-Downtown Endnotes a. Column percentages are weighted by institution-reported sex and enrollment status (and institution size for comparison groups). Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Counts are unweighted; column percentages cannot be replicated from counts. b. All statistics are weighted by institution-reported sex and enrollment status (and institution size for comparison groups). Unless otherwise noted, statistical comparisons are two-tailed independent t -tests. Items with categorical response sets are left blank. c. These are the values used to calculate means. For the majority of items, these values match the codes in the data file and codebook. d. Effect size for independent t- tests uses Cohen's d ; z- tests use Cohen's h . e. Statistics are weighted by institution-reported sex and enrollment status (and institution size for comparison groups). Categorical items are not listed. f. The 95% confidence interval for the population mean is equal to the sample mean plus or minus 1.96 times the standard error of the mean. g. A measure of the amount individual scores deviate from the mean of all the scores in the distribution. h. Degrees of freedom used to compute the t -tests. Values differ from Ns due to weighting and whether equal variances were assumed. i. Statistical comparisons are two-tailed independent t -tests or z -tests. Statistical significance represents the probability that the difference between your students' mean and that of the students in the comparison group is due to chance. j. Statistical comparison uses z- test to compare the proportion who responded (depending on the item) "Done or in progress" or "Yes" with all who responded otherwise. k. Mean represents the proportion who responded (depending on the item) “Done or in progress” or "Yes."
Key to symbols:
▲ △ ▽ ▼
Your students’ average was significantly higher (p < .05) with an effect size at least .3 in magnitude. Your students’ average was significantly higher (p < .05) with an effect size less than .3 in magnitude. Your students’ average was significantly lower (p < .05) with an effect size less than .3 in magnitude. Your students’ average was significantly lower (p < .05) with an effect size at least .3 in magnitude.
Note: It is important to interpret the direction of differences relative to item wording and your institutional context.
10 • NSSE 2019 TOPICAL MODULE REPORT