Environmental assessment of residence halls and the impact of their associated educational and developmental spaces has concerned housing and residential life professionals for a considerable time. Given this understanding, a number of approaches to conduct environmental assessment have emerged. This case study utilized and expanded upon an…

In this study, dormitory room and social group assignment data from a college are used to investigate peer effects on college students' decisions to switch majors. Results reveal strong evidence of such peer effects at both the room and the social group level. Most notably, at the room level, the dense concentration of same-major roommates deters…

The Sanction Enhancement Group, pilot tested in the Division of Housing at the University of Florida, was a structured group experience for residence hall students. The group's experience reflected a major goal of the judicial system within the Division of Housing--education through redirecting behavior. The group members were students whose…

This study used college dormitory room and social group assignment data to investigate the peer effect on the probability of college students switching their major fields of study. The results revealed strong evidence of peer effects on students' decisions to switch majors. In particular, the number of a student's peers who have the same major…

Although previous studies have reported that the broad autism phenotype is associated with reduced relationship quality within established relationships, understanding how this association emerges requires assessment prior to relationship development. In the present longitudinal study, college roommates with minimal familiarity prior to…

Examined whether self-selected roommates showed higher rapport and fewer midyear roommate changes than did randomly assigned roommates. Results from 147 residential college students seemed to indicate that self-selected incoming freshmen roommate pairs were more likely to stay together than were their randomly assigned counterparts. Such…

Examined whether freshmen living in residence halls achieve higher grades than nonresidence hall students. Compared mean grade point averages (GPA's) earned at the end of freshman year for 1,302 residence hall students and 740 nonresidence hall students. Results showed freshmen in residence halls achieved higher GPA's than nonresidence hall…

Reports the findings of a study in which Israeli college students, living in high-rise (males=30, females=30) and low dormitories (males=30, females=30), responded during interviews to questionnaires concerning their help-giving, help-seeking, and help-reciprocating behaviors. (DC)

These studies conducted before and after implementation of an international residence program indicate the proximity of American students to foreign students in conventional residence halls. International halls encourage cross-cultural interaction and interest in international activities. (NRB)

This paper reports the findings of a 1990 nationwide survey of chief student affairs administrators addressing college and university campus safety issues. Respondents (N=701 out of a total of 1,091 recipients) completed a 24 item questionnaire, and the results were analyzed using frequencies and cross-tabulations for comparisons by size of…

Results of this survey showed that most students approved of all-freshman halls. The majority of the faculty and staff disagreed. Groups also differed in views of the maturation process of students, students' ability to make friends, and willingness of upperclassmen to live with freshmen. (Author/NRB)

Findings show that male students who chose to live in coeducational residence halls were more mature and better adjusted than students who chose single-sex residence halls. Few personality differences were found between female groups. (NRB)

At most institutions, freshmen are assigned to one of six residence hall types: freshmen-men; freshmen-women; freshmen-coed; freshmen-upperclass-men; freshmen-upperclass-women; and freshmen-upperclass-coed. In an attempt to clarify which of these residence hall arrangements most benefits freshmen, 2,200 freshmen (40 percent) attending 12 colleges…

The effect of personality similarity on compatibility and conflict was studied among roommate pairs. Self-reported data were collected for frequency of conflict, liking, personality measures, "morningness," choice vs. assigned, length of rooming together, length of relationship, and socioeconomic variables. Although some variables show…

Surveyed 197 freshman residents from eight university residential programs. Respondents lived in either living-learning halls or conventional residential facilities. Results suggest that designing the environment of residence halls to promote academic integration supports other purposes as well. Living-learning programs appeared to have greater…