Critiques written by J. Bruce Francis, Gerald Gurin, Arthur W. Chickering, and G. Lester Anderson of Astin's "Four Critical Years" are discussed. Points of agreement and contention between the reviewers concern the effects of college on students. (SF)

First of a 2-part series concerned with: different types of inferential errors, single- vs. multi-institutional studies (MIS), longitudinal vs. cross-sectional data, statistical designs, measurement error effects, and measuring student-environment interaction effects. The best data is obtained from longitudinal MIS on student inputs and outputs,…

While any method of data collection is subject to certain unique types of systematic errors, the investigator has available several techniques for detecting such errors or for minimizing their effects on his conclusions. (Author/JB)

Methodological difficulties inherent in the design of studies of college impact are reviewed and an attempt is made to provide an improved research design. The discussion of research problems focuses on those of inferring causation. A characteristic three-component model of student development, comprised of student output, student input, and…