Research question

Are African-American males, who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
that are not involved in any campus organization, Greek or Non-Greek; that are geared
towards empowering, a sense of brotherhood, providing positive networking opportunities,
and promoting black excellence, are more likely to not successfully graduate from a four
year institution than those who are involved?
Based on the survey conducted, 37 individuals responded in total. Of the 37
respondents, 29 participants or 78.38% of them fell between the 18 to 24 age group,
16.22% or 6 participants answered between the 25-34 age group, while only 5.4%
answered that they fell in the 35 to 54 age group. Majority of the respondents belonged to
1 of 3 classification groups, sophomore 32.43%, senior 18.92% or graduate student with
27.03%. 34 or 94.44%particpants identified as African American or black.
When asked about Greek organization membership 56.76% of them responded
NO while only 43.24% said YES. When asked a similar question about their general
campus involvement the number of respondents who answered YES increased to 89.19%
and only 10.81%. In looking at these results, one can conclude that majority of the sample
surveyed are in somewhat involved on their campus.

Involvment
11%

Greek Vs. Non-Greek

Involved

Greek

Non
Involved

43%

Non-Greek

57%
89%

In looking back, the ten questions that made up the survey did not appropriately reflect or
effectively measured the posed research question. From the questions we can break them up into
four categories; demographics, involvement, opinion and rational, and follow-up (see chart 1.0).

The research question is asking about campus or college involvement for African American
males at an HBCU and how it relates to graduating and graduation rates. The two questions that
related to this topic were Question 4 and question 5. Although the questions that targeted
gathering the demographics were relevant and supplied background on the participants, the bulk
of the questions were not. If the surveyor included more questions about the research question
then it would be more reliable in coming to a conclusion about involvement and graduation rates
among African American males at HBCUs. (See sections 1 for example questions.) Also, with a
bigger population one can see a greater representation of the population. Restructuring the survey
to include different subsets of the population and making sure you get an equal number for eat to
help reach a number that can be compared to the population.
Section 1
Example questions:
1. Do you feel campus involvement influences ones chances at graduating? Yes or no.
2. Do you see campus involvement as a distraction and not conducive to the primary goal, which is to
graduate? Yes or no, and explain.
3. As an African-American male, do you feel there is a fair representation of organizations on campus for
you to be apart of?
4. Do you see more males in higher ranking positons in campus organizations or female?
5. Does being involved in an organization motivate you to keep you grades up?
6. What is your expected graduation date
7. Why would you choose to join/be involved in an organization?
A. The perks and networking opportunities B. My friends joined so I did too C. looks good on a resume
D. my parents and family are apart E. fill in your reason here________
8. When did you decide to get involved on campus?
A. Freshmen year B. Sophomore year C. Junior Year D. Senior year E. I made the decision before I
came to school to get involved F. kind of just happened
9. Why did you chose to attend an HBCU?
A. Parents and Family tradition/influence B. Only school that I got accepted into C. friends influence D.
always been my dream to attend an HBCU E. Other_____________

10.

Demographic
-Education & Major
-Ethnicity/Race
-Age
-Gender (N/A, due to the
research question targeting
only African American
males)

Chart 1.0
Involvement
Opinion & Rational
-Greek Vs. Non-Greek
-Value
Involved Vs. Not Involved -Cause to Drop Out

Follow-Up
-Length of involvement
-Graduation Rate/Length

Why its important

These results are relevant and important to the study of how campus involvement relates
to graduation, and more so how it connects to the research question, Are African-American
Males, who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities, that are not involved un any

campus organization, Greek or Non-Greek; that are geared towards the empowering, a sense of
brotherhood, providing positive networking opportunities and promoting black excellence, are
more likely to not successfully graduate from a four year institution than those who are involved.
The aim of this research is to point out that black males have an increased chance at graduating
within the four to five year rages from freshmen year and on if they are actively involved on their
campus. The results reflect that a high number of students are involved on their campus and are
on track to graduating. The population alone, of just surveying African-American males is a great
target population, since that segment of the population is lower than that of their female counter
parts in attending college in general. According to survey data collected by the national study for
student engagement or the NSSE, students at HBCUs, report higher levels of engagementthan
do their counterparts at non-HBCUs.