Studies of the effects of college on students
illustrate the effects of peers on student attitudes and
behavior. Likewise, college administrators view peers as a
major source of influence on students. Despite awareness of
peers as a significant source of influence on students,
little research has been conducted to determine how such
influence occurs.
The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to
which selected decisions of first-semester Virginia Tech
students are influenced by peers according to gender and
race. An eighteen-item survey instrument was used to
collect data about peer influence in student wellness and
interpersonal relationships. Subjects for the study
included 228 resident first-year students. Data were
analyzed by two-way ANOVA procedures.
There were no significant differences between men and
women, or between African-American and Caucasian students in
the study. Although many students responded that they were
influenced by peers in the areas of trying new things and
resolving conflicts with friends, students reported they
were influenced little by their peers in areas such as the
use of illegal drugs, diet, and their feelings toward
persons with a sexual orientation other than their own.
Findings from this study suggest that students did not
depend on peers for help in decision making regarding issues
of wellness and interpersonal relationships~1 These findings
should be useful to college administrators who structure
out-of-class learning activities by increasing their
understanding of the actual influence that students have on
one another.
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