Nine-Year Cross-Sectional Study of Change in Self-Concepts of College Freshmen

Abstract

Entering freshman classes at a midwest Catholic university were administered Gough's Adjective Check List (1965) each year from 1965 to 1973. Random samples from each class were drawn and compared on five constructed scales of self-concept. The N for each of the years was 75. Significant year-to-year differences were found on 2 of the 5 scales. In addition, a significant “wave-like” trend in the yearly means of one scale was observed. These differences indicated a change for groups in sociability and contemplative independence areas of self-concept.