Value change among university students

Students at Flinders University completed Form E of the Rokeach Value Survey early in 1969. A postal survey in mid‐1971 using the same test instrument followed up these Ss classified into three groups: those still at Flinders, those who had left to attend another tertiary institution, and those who had quit tertiary studies altogether. Results showed that average value systems were very similar when compared across groups in the same year (both in 1969 and in 1971) and from 1969 to 1971. Some changes occurred in the relative importance of particular values over the 2 1/2 year interval but there was little evidence of differences between groups. Results were related to those of American studies reviewed by Feldman and Newcomb. Problems of research design and interpretation of results in the area of the effects of college impact were discussed. 1973 Australian Psychological Society