Blog 5 repost

Kyle Keogh

Research Proposal Assignment

Michael Goeller

The Positive Impacts of Going Greek

2)

Greek life has been around since the 1800s and has become a very important aspect to college life. The Greek life community is filled with hundreds of thousands of current members and alumni. Although Greek life has been around for over 200 years it still gets a bad reputation. Many common issues brought up with it are excessive drinking, drug use, sexual assault, racism, and poor academic performances. While yes this does happen occasionally there are so many other advantages and positive impacts that the Greek community provides. For starters Greek life provides countless hours of community service and raises millions of dollars in philanthropy. A large majority of Greek students perform community service on a weekly basis. They provide help to the surrounding community and have a positive impact on thousands yearly. That is just the start to the impact that Greek life has. It also allows young college students to have an opportunity to grow and hold leadership positions. This is very important for a young college student. Holding these positions give them a sense of responsibility and helps them become a better leader. These are all traits that employers are looking for when looking for new employees. Greek members achieve high level as academic success as well. Most presidents and CEOs of fortune 500 companies were once in Greek Life. The impact of Greek life could go on forever. It allows students to socialize with new people constantly and develop their social skills. Students in Greek life have been studied and when looked at further the students apart of the Greek Community score higher in many different areas compared to Non-Greeks. This includes academic success, campus involvement, and development of different skills. These are just a few examples but there are many more. Even though there is the occasional hiccup in the Greek community, its overall positive impact outweighs the negatives. .

3)

What is the impact on development and growth of students who decide to go Greek?

4)

The most important concepts and ideas from the academic articles are the facts that they bring up about how Greek members grow and develop their skill sets. A very important idea brought up in one article is cognitive development. One article does is depth study on the impact that joining Greek life has on the development of student’s cognitive development. Cognitive development is an important aspect of college and joining Greek life can help develop these skills. Gary Pike did research into the development of Greek students cognitive abilities. He found that “"In the present research, involvement in a variety of curricular and co-curricular activities was directly related to gains in one dimension of cognitive development: growth in general abilities" (Pike 136). Involvement in other groups on campus improves Greek student's abilities to further develop their general cognitive skills. Another very interesting thing I found was that Greek students have higher graduation rates, are more ready to work full time after graduation, and look into graduate school earlier than Non-Greek members. In research done by Wesley Routon and Jay Walker they found that "Greek membership is found to increase the desire to pursue a graduate degree and increase the likelihood of graduating on time" ((Routon and Walker 70). This is a large benefit that only Greek students really get to have. The reason for that being is due to the large alumni networks the have access too. They help better prepare the undergraduate members with their real world experience. They can also prepare them for interviews or even help them get a full time position.   

5)

The academic articles that I have looked into have mostly provided important information on what impact Greek life has on students. So far they have all looked into studies of students in the Greek community and Non-Greeks and compared the impact on joining Greek life. I found two very important cases that have discussed the impact on growth for Greek members. The two cases look at different areas of growth but both are equally important. As stated above the one case looks into the development of cognitive skills. The other article looks into the growth of leaderships. This another important case because it discusses how joining Greek life allows it members to increase their leadership experience. In another study by Routon and Walker they found that “Greek membership offers opportunities to take leadership roles within the organization, to speak publicly, and learn how to negotiate the group dynamics of working with other students in pursuit of goals and projects that non-Greeks may not be as encouraged to take. The dynamics within Greek organizations likely lead to these differentials” (Routon and Walker 618).  Greek students are able to not only get involved in their organization but as well as all the organizations their individual schools have to offer. This allows them join other clubs and take leadership roles. Not only does this improve their leadership ability but it also helps them improve other skills. It helps them improve their public speaking and communication. Both of which are important skills to have in order to be successful further in life. Also gaining experience with working in a group is important. It relates back to what Pike found and how joining other groups improves students development of cognitive skills.

6)

Glass, Nicole. "Examining the Benefits of Greek Life." USA Today. Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 03 July 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

Heibutzki, Ralph. "Positive & Negative Effects of Greek Life in College." Education - Seattle PI.

Seattle PI, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

Long, Larry D. "Unchallenged, Professed Core Values: Do Undergraduate Fraternity/Sorority

Members Actually Benefit in the  Areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and

Friendship?." College Student Affairs Journal, vol. 30, no. 2, 01 Jan. 2012, pp.  15-30.

EBSCOhost,  

login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct

=true&db=eric&A

Musulin, Kristin. "Voices: The Positive, Underreported Aspects of Greek Life." USA Today.

Gannett Satellite Information Network, 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 28 Feb.

2017.N=EJ1006547&site=eds-live.

Pike, Gary R. "The Influence of Fraternity or Sorority Membership on Students' College

Experiences and Cognitive Development." Research in Higher Education, no. 1, 2000, p. 117. EBSCOhost,

login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.40196391&site=eds-live.

Routon, P.W. ( 1 ) and J.K. ( 2 ) Walker. "Attitude Changes and Self-Perceived Skill Gains from

Collegiate Greek Organization Membership*." Social Science Quarterly, vol. 97, no. 3,

01 Sept. 2016, p. 807-822. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12310.

Routon, P. Wesley and Jay K. Walker. "The Impact of Greek Organization Membership on

Collegiate Outcomes: Evidence from a National Survey." Journal of Behavioral and

Experimental Economics, vol. 49, 01 Apr. 2014, pp. 63-70. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.socec.2014.02.003.

Blog 10

Abstract

There have been multiple studies done on college students and the impact that joining the Greek community has on their development. Greek life exists at almost every major institution of higher education. The Greek community consists of millions of alumni and hundreds of thousand current undergraduate students. It is an enormous network of people that helps its members develop their skills and develop important leadership skills. Students in the Greek community are exposed to various social situations and leadership opportunities. This exposure allows them to develop their cognitive skills and gain valuable leadership experience that better prepares these students for life after school.

Work cited

Glass, Nicole. "Examining the Benefits of Greek Life." USA Today. Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 03 July 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

Heibutzki, Ralph. "Positive & Negative Effects of Greek Life in College." Education - Seattle

PI. Seattle PI, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.

Kuh, George D. and Ernest T. Pascarella. "The Questionable Value of Fraternities." Chronicle of

Higher Education, vol. 42, no. 32, 19 Apr. 1996, p. A68. EBSCOhost,

login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct

=true&db=trh&AN=9604187856&site=eds-live.

Long, Larry D. "Unchallenged, Professed Core Values: Do Undergraduate

Fraternity/Sorority Members Actually Benefit in the  Areas of Scholarship,

Leadership, Service, and Friendship?." College Student Affairs Journal, vol. 30, no. 2, 01 Jan. 2012, pp.  15-30. EBSCOhost,  

login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&A

Musulin, Kristin. "Voices: The Positive, Underreported Aspects of Greek Life." USA Today.

Gannett Satellite Information Network, 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.N=EJ1006547&site=eds-live.

Pike, Gary R. "The Influence of Fraternity or Sorority Membership on Students' College

Experiences and Cognitive Development." Research in Higher Education, no. 1, 2000, p. 117. EBSCOhost,

login.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.40196391&site=eds-live.

Routon, P.W. ( 1 ) and J.K. ( 2 ) Walker. "Attitude Changes and Self-Perceived Skill Gains from

Collegiate Greek Organization Membership*." Social Science Quarterly, vol. 97, no. 3,

01 Sept. 2016, p. 807-822. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12310.

Routon, Wesley, and Jay Walker. “Going Greek: Academics, Personal Change, and Life after

College.”Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning , vol. 48, no. 1, 7 Mar. 2016, pp. 60–66., Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.

Routon, P. Wesley and Jay K. Walker. "The Impact of Greek Organization Membership on

Collegiate Outcomes: Evidence from a National Survey." Journal of Behavioral and

Experimental Economics, vol. 49, 01 Apr. 2014, pp. 63-70. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.socec.2014.02.003.

"General History of Fraternities and Sororities in the United States." STUDENT

INVOLVEMENT. San Jose State University, 22 July 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Review 5

1) P. Wesley Routon

Jay K. Walker


2) Routon, P.W. ( 1 ) and J.K. ( 2 ) Walker. "Attitude Changes and Self-Perceived Skill Gains from Collegiate Greek Organization Membership*." Social Science Quarterly, vol. 97, no. 3, 01 Sept. 2016, p. 807-822. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12310.

3) This article goes into detail in various different things such as Greek life students opinions on things such as discrimination and legalization of marijuana. On top of that it goes on to talk about leadership skills and interpersonal skills developed by Greek life students. It goes on to explain that these opinions and skills are developed through the experiences and opportunities that students face while they are in Greek life. 

4) Wesley Routon: Wesley is an applied microeconomist, and much of his work falls within labor and education economics. He revived his doctorate in economics from middle Tennessee state university
Jay Walker: Jay's fields of interest are applied microeconomics, labor economics, and the economics of education. He is an assistant professor of economics at Niagara University and was awarded his Ph.D in economics from the university of Memphis. 

5) 1) Large premiums in leadership abilities and interpersonal skills

2) Greek life members have different opinions then non-Greek life students

6) "gains for Greeks in leadership ability, interpersonal skills, and public speaking" page 819

"Male membership has a positive impact on skills related to getting along with individuals of different races and cultures, understanding community problems, and understanding national social problems compared with male non-Greeks" page 819

"Both male and female members report larger skill gains regarding leadership abilities, interpersonal skills, and public speaking" page 818

7) This is a very valuable source because it gives me more benefits that Greek life has on its members. It further explains the skill developed while in Greek life. The uniqueness of Greek life is the fact that it allows its members to face many different experiences that most other students do not have the opportunity to face. These experiences allow its members to further develop their skills and form more open opinions.   

Blog 9

Thesis:

Joining Greek life is more than just joining a social club, it is a way for young students to develop there skill set and grow to become more successful in the future.

Research question:

What is the impact on development and growth on students who decide to go Greek?

In order to answer this questions I plan on using my sources to show how Greek students further develop their skills and are further set up for success in the future. I will be showing this by giving examples of specific skills that students have developed when they joined Greek life.

In an article by George Kuhn he tries to discuss the negative influences that students encounter by joining Greek life. He goes on to try and counter the argument that students develop and enhance their cognitive skills. He goes on to state how Greek students are behind their non-Greek students in cognitive development. He goes on to explain the biggest deficit in students is in critical thinking. He also tries to argue that Greek students make smaller gains in openness to diversity than their fellow non-Greek students.

Although Kuhn may argue these points there is significant evidence to refute his argument. It has been looked into multiple times and I have found multiple sources that disagree with Kuhn's argument and provide significant evidence against him.

Blog 8

A very important case that further looks into the development of cognitive skills in Greek Life members is developed by Wesley Routon and Jay Walker. They sampled over 103,000 undergraduate college students from 462 institutions of higher education. They look at these college students's opinions on things from legalization of marijuana to the belief that racial discrimination is no longer a problem in the United States. Further the look into self-perceived skill changes such as leadership abilities and interpersonal skills.  It was found that Greek members of both genders are most likely to believe that racial discrimination is not a problem in our country. The most important part of this case is related to the skill changes that happen to Greek members while at school. Both male and female Greek members were reported to have larger gains in leadership abilities, interpersonal skills and public speaking. All of these skills are extremely important for people in the long run. The development of these specific skills allow students to grow and become successful. Being exposed to leadership positions as a young adult can help students grow and understand what it is like to be responsible and in charge of the well being of other people. Being a confident public speaker helps in performing presentations and can increase a students success in interviews. Being a good public speaker displays a sense of self confidence which is important for a young student. A large reason for Greek students to be able to develop these skills, has to do with the opportunities these students have to take leadership positions in their organization, to speak publicly, and learn how to negotiate the group dynamics of working with other students in pursuit of goals and projects that non-Greeks may not be as encouraged to take. Along with this male members received a positive impact on skills related to getting along with individuals of different races and cultures, understanding community problems, and understanding national social problems compared to non-Greeks. Overall these are all very important skills gained by Greek members that further help them improves their skill set and help them find success in the future.

Blog 7

One of the most important terms discussed in most of the readings is the development of cognitive skills. There is a lot of research out there that looks at the effect of Greek Life and its effects on the development of cognitive skills. In an article by Gary Pike and in another article by Wesley Routon and Jay Walker, both discuss the positive growth in skills from joining Greek Life. These two articles take an in depth look at cognitive skills and go on to show how joining Greek Life can develop these certain skills further.

Blog 6

This is an important visual because it displays all the positive things that come from Greek life. Just a couple of important facts displayed are that $7 million dollars is raised towards charities each year by Greek life. Another important fact being that overall Greek life GPAs are higher than the average student. These are all important facts that show the benefits of going Greek and thats why this is an important visual.