# Presentation: 060146

## Fall 2003 Superintendent’s Preparatory School Climate Survey 

**Lt Col Chris Luedtke, PhD              Dr. Heidi Smith**
**34 TRW/CCX                                     DFBL**

## Overview

**Survey development and administration process**
**Results**
**Gender**
**Discrimination against Majority (Reverse discrimination) **
**Race**
**Fear of Reprisal**
**Intercollegiate Status**
**Alcohol-related behavior **
**Toleration of violations**
**Trust and confidence in USAFA and Prep School leadership**
**Perceptions of safety**
**Trust and confidence in sexual assault respondents**
**Knowledge of sexual assault reporting procedures and reasons for not reporting**
**Conclusions and Way Ahead**

## Prep School Survey Development and Administration

**USAFA  Fall 2003 Superintendent’s Cadet Social Climate Survey items utilized for development of Prep School Survey **
**External reviews received from:**
**Air Force Personnel Center**
**Defense Manpower Data Center**
**Denver Rape Assistance and Awareness Program**
**SECAF, SAF/GC, SAF/MRM**
**Item wording revised to refer to Preparatory School**
**Preparatory School survey internally reviewed by:**
**HQ USAFA/XPR**
**HQ USAFA/JA**
**Administered to the Cadet Candidate Group on 4 Sep 03 (Paper/Pencil)**
**Participation was voluntary**

##  Sample Demographics

**220 responded (~96% participation rate) **
** ****179 Male****	****  41 Female***
**   ****90 Caucasian****	****129 Minority**
** ****133 Student Athlete****	****  87 Non-athlete**
**   ****71 A Squadron  **
**      ****75 B Squadron**
**      ****72 C Squadron**

- ***Note: The number of women in the sample exceeds the number in the Cadet **
**Candidate Group based on statistics provided by XPR and the Prep School. **

## Relative Demographics

- 			**                                 **_**Cadet**_** ****	****	****	**** **_**Respondents**_** ****	**_**Candidate Group**_
**Women        ****	****	****       19%****	****	****	****16%**
**Racial/Ethnic Minority****	****	****       59****	****	****	****48**
**Student Athlete ****	****	****       60****	****	****	****38**

##  Means of Aggregated Climate Factors

**Positive **
**Climate**

- Strongly
- Disagree

- Disagree

- Slightly
- Disagree

- Slightly
- Agree

- Agree

- Strongly
- Agree

## Gender Subscale Items by Gender

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Women belong at the **
**Prep School**

**Female officers are as **
**effective as male officers**

**Coed environment prepares **
**me for the AF**

**It is difficult for a woman to be **
**feminine and professional**

**Male and female C/Cs **
**are equally effective leaders**

**Natural differences make **
**complete acceptance of **
**women impossible**

## Discrimination Against Majority Items by Gender

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Some women get **
**leadership positions **
**because of gender**

**I question the criteria**
**when a woman gets the job**

**Female C/Cs are **
**less likely to**
**be held accountable for poor performance**

** ****Some Cadet Candidates believe women receive preferential treatment**

- Positive Social Climate

## Summary of Findings regarding Gender Attitudes

**11% of male cadet candidates believe women do not belong at the Preparatory School**
**26% of male cadet candidates believe female officers are less effective than male officers**
**Approximately 38% of **_**both**_** male and female cadet candidates believe that women cannot be feminine and professional and that natural differences between men and women make complete acceptance of women impossible**

** ****Some male cadet candidates have negative attitudes**
**  ****toward women at the Prep School**
** ****Even female cadet candidates struggle with the idea of women**
**  ****in leadership roles**

- Never

- Once

- Occasionally

- Frequently

- Almost
- every day

- More than
- once a day

- Positive Social Climate

**Sexual Jokes**
**Sexual Comments**
**Observed**
**Sexual Harassment**

**Frequency of Sexual Jokes/Comments and Observed Sexual Harassment**

- Frequency

**Notes:**
This is where I believe we are making a difference. If there are problems in any of the areas, we want cadets to not fear reprisal for addressing them. 

**Sexual slurs, **
**comments, and **
**jokes are **_**not**_** used **
**by C/Cs**
**Sexually explicit**
**pictures are seen in**
**the common area **
**of my squadron**
**Sexual harassment**
**occurs in the **
**C/C group**

**Sexually-Related Slurs, Pictures, and Sexual Harassment**

** ****Level of agreement mirrors frequency of incidents**

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Notes:**
This is where I believe we are making a difference. If there are problems in any of the areas, we want cadets to not fear reprisal for addressing them. 

## Race Subscale Items by Minority Status

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**When in charge, I make**
** ****other races work harder**

**Interracial dating is accepted.**

**C/Cs should be free to associate with people of all races**

**Problems with people due to **
**personality, not race**

**Would jump chain to speak **
**with someone of own race**

**Have friends of a different race**

** ****Positive race climate at the Prep School**

## Discrimination Against Majority Items by Minority Status

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Racial minorities have unfair advantage due to Affirmative Action**

**I question the criteria **
**when minority gets the job**

**Minority cadet candidates**
**are held accountable**

**Minority cadet candidates **
**get positions because of **
**minority status**

**- Despite positive race climate, some differences in perceptions exist**

##  Frequency of Racial Jokes and Comments 

- Never

- Once

- Occasionally

- Frequently

- Almost
- every day

- More than
- once a day

- Positive Social Climate

**Racial Jokes**
**Racial **
**Comments**

- Frequency

**Notes:**
This is where I believe we are making a difference. If there are problems in any of the areas, we want cadets to not fear reprisal for addressing them. 

## Fear of Reprisal Subscale Items by Gender

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Would **_**not**_** confront **
**harassment or discrimination**
**due to negative treatment**

**Would **_**not**_** report **
**harassment or discrimination **
**due to negative treatment**

**More important to be **
**accepted than to report**

**Would **_**not**_** confront due to **
**fear of ostracism**

**Would **_**not**_** report due to **
**fear of ostracism**

- Positive Social Climate

## Fear of Reprisal Subscale Items by Minority Status

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Would **_**not**_** confront **
**harassment or discrimination**
**due to negative treatment**

**Would **_**not**_** report **
**harassment or discrimination **
**due to negative treatment**

**More important to be **
**accepted than to report**

**Would **_**not**_** confront due to **
**fear of ostracism**

**Would **_**not**_** report due to **
**fear of ostracism**

** ****Caucasian C/Cs report greater concern about reprisal **

- Positive Social Climate

## Student Athlete Subscale Items by Athlete Status

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Athletes have unfair **
**access to EI**

**   ****No difference in professionalism**
** ****between athletes and non**

**Athletes get breaks on classroom performance**

**Athletes unfairly receive **
**special privileges**

**Athletes are involved in and **
**support squadrons**

**Athletes unfairly downgraded **
**on military performance**

**- Non-athletes believe special treatment is given to athletes**

## Alcohol Outcomes Comparison by Age and Gender

**Percentage** **of Respondents that Agree**

**Drank since arrival**
** ****at Prep School**

***Consumed alcohol **
**in last 30 days**

***Have negatively **
**impacted someone**

**Have been negatively **
**Impacted by drinking**
**of other C/Cs**

**Observed other C/Cs being negatively**
** ****impacted by drinking**
** ****of other C/Cs**

_**Note**_**:  Negatively impacted examples include awakening someone, disrupted study, hurting or **
**assaulting someone, etc.**

- *Percentages for these items are a percentage of C/Cs who drank alcohol since they came to the Prep School.

##  Alcohol in the Prep School Dorms

**Desired **

**I would drink alcohol in the dorms if I felt that I wouldn’t get caught**
**Other C/Cs would drink alcohol in the dorms if they felt that they wouldn’t get caught**
**I drink, or have drunk, alcohol in the dorms**
**Other C/Cs drink alcohol in the dorms **

**Percentage of respondents that agree**

** ****Perception of others’ intentions outpaces self-reporting**

##  Availability of Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

**Desired **

**I would provide alcohol to C/Cs under the age of 21 if I felt that I wouldn’t get caught**
**Other C/Cs provide alcohol to C/Cs under the age of 21**
**I’ve been offered illegal drugs by other C/Cs **

**Percentage of respondents that agree**

** ****Perception of activity outpaces self-reporting**
** ****5% of C/Cs offered illegal drugs by other C/Cs**

## Summary of Findings Regarding Alcohol Outcomes (Prep School)

**C/Cs self-reported 12% underage drinking rate**
**Although few C/Cs report that they have negatively impacted others, a larger number of C/Cs report that other C/Cs have negatively impacted them**
**C/Cs’ perceptions of others’ drinking behavior is exaggerated when compared to self-reports**
**These perceptions may lead C/Cs to behave in ways that seem consistent with the social norm surrounding alcohol use**

##  Confronting Problem Drinking by Age

**Desired **

**I would confront another C/C for unlawful drinking**
**I would confront another C/C for inappropriate drinking**
**Other C/Cs would **
**confront another C/C **
**for unlawful drinking**
**Other C/Cs would **
**confront another C/C for inappropriate drinking**

**Percentage of respondents that agree**

**- Older C/Cs report greater intent to confront**

***Unlawful Drinking (e.g., drinking under age)**
****Inappropriate Drinking (e.g., drinking in the dorms)**

##  Condonation of Violations ofPrep School Standards

**If a C/C is in violation of Prep School standards, I would bring it to his/her attention**
**If a**** ****C/C is in violation of Prep School standards, other C/Cs would bring it to his/her attention**
**If I brought a violation of Prep School standards to a C/C’s attention, I would be ostracized by the C/C or other C/Cs**
**If a C/C brought a violation of Prep School standards to another C/C’s attention, he/she would be ostracized by the C/C or other C/Cs **

**Percentage of respondents that agree**

**  ****Despite concerns about ostracism, most C/Cs say they would confront others who violate standards**

***Violation of Standards (e.g. hair length/color/style, uniform, hands in uniform pockets, etc.)**

##  Toleration of Suspected Honor Code Violations

**If I suspect another C/C of violating the honor code, I would talk to the C/C about the suspected honor violation**
**C/Cs will confront other C/Cs if they suspect a violation of the honor code**
**If I brought a suspected violation of the honor code to the attention of a suspected C/C, I would be ostracized by the C/C or other C/Cs**
**C/Cs that confront other C/Cs for suspected violations of the honor code are ostracized by the C/C or other C/Cs**

**Percentage of respondents who agree**

** ****Older C/Cs report greater intention to confront honor**
**  ****violations and less concern about ostracism**

## Trust and Confidence in Prep School Leadership by Gender

**High Trust **
**and Confidence**

**Superintendent**

**Prep School **
**Commander**

**Dean of Faculty**

**Military Training **
**Commander**

**Director of Athletics**

**- C/Cs express strong trust and confidence in their leaders**

## Trust and Confidence in Prep School Leadership by Gender

**High Trust **
**and Confidence**

**AOCs**

**MTLs**

**Faculty**

**C/C Group Staff**

**C/C Squadron **
**Leadership**

**- Men report less trust and confidence in cadet candidate leaders**

## Trust and Confidence in Prep School Leadership by Squadron

**High Trust **
**and Confidence**

**AOCs**

**MTLs**

**Faculty**

**C/C Group Staff**

**C/C Squadron **
**Leadership**

**- Less trust and confidence in cadet candidate leaders than in AOCs/MTLs and faculty.**

## Perceptions of Safety

**High Perception **
**of Safety**

**Outside at night**

**Squadron at night**

**Room at night**

**Running at Prep School**

**Squadron daytime**

** ****Cadet candidates feel very safe at the Preparatory School**
** ****Women are most concerned about running on Prep School grounds**

## Sexual Assault Response Items by Gender

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

**Trust and confidence**
**In the OSI**

**Trust and Confidence that RT will properly investigate**

**Current senior leadership **
**makes efforts to prevent or **
**stop unwanted sexual attention**

**Trust and Confidence that RT will provide victim care**

- Desired

## I know how to report a suspected incident of sexual assault

**Percentage of Respondents that Agree**

** ****25% of cadet candidates do not know how to report a**
**  ****suspected incident of sexual assault **

- Desired

## What  would prevent you from reporting a sexual assault?

**Percent** **of Respondents**

**Note:  Respondents could mark multiple responses to this item**

## Conclusions and Way Ahead

**Results of this survey indicate we have some climate-related problems**
_**Areas of greatest concern**_**:  **
**Condonation/Toleration**
**Gender Attitudes**
**Racial and Sexual Jokes and Comments**
**Knowledge of Sexual Assault Reporting Procedures**
**Trust and Confidence in Responses to Sexual Assault Reports**
**Prep School results indicate generally positive climate related to race, trust and confidence in leadership, and safety**
**Way ahead will emphasize Superintendent’s commitment to “Assess and Improve”**

## I n t e g r i t y  -  S e r v i c e  -  E x c e l l e n c e

***I n t e g r i t y  -  S e r v i c e  -  E x c e l l e n c e***

## Back Up Slides

**Preparatory School Climate Survey**

## Reliability of Climate SubscalesPrep School

| Subscale (Number of items) | Coefficient Alpha |
| --- | --- |
| Fear of Reprisal (5) | .83 |
| Discrimination against the Majority (8) | .79 |
| Gender (6) | .75 |
| Intercollegiate Status (6) | .68 |
| Race (6) | .64 |
| Trust in Leadership (11) | .90 |
| Safety (8) | .92 |
| Trust Sexual Assault Respondents (4) | .78 |

## Alcohol-related behavior and outcomes (Prep School)

| Alcohol Item | All | M | F | <21 | >21 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Drank alcohol since arrival at Prep School | 15 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 48 |
| *Consumed alcohol in last 30 days | 94 | 93 | 100 | 91 | 100 |
| *Have negatively impacted someone due to drinking behavior | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Have been negatively impacted by drinking behavior of other cadet candidates | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Observed others being negatively impacted by drinking behavior of other cadet candidates | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 0 |

**Percent of Respondents**

**Comparison Groups**

***Note: Percentages for these items reflect percent of cadet candidates **
**who say they have drank alcohol since their arrival at the Prep School.**

**Alcohol-related behavior ****and outcomes (Prep School)**

## What  would prevent you from reporting a sexual assault?...Prep School

| Non-Reporting Reason | All | M | F |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revealing incriminating info | 23 | 21 | 29 |
| Threats from perpetrator | 13 | 10 | 27 |
| Feared reprisal from perpetrator | 14 | 11 | 27 |
| Unsure how/where to report | 18 | 16 | 24 |
| Not believing perp would be punished | 11 | 9 | 20 |
| Isolated incident, won’t be repeated | 16 | 16 | 20 |
| No one would believe you over perp | 17 | 16 | 22 |
| Re-victimized by social isolation  | 16 | 13 | 29 |
| Re-victimized by criminal investigation | 14 | 12 | 22 |
| Report not taken seriously | 12 | 10 | 24 |
| Response team won’t handle case sensitively | 8 | 6 | 20 |
| Identity not handled sensitively by response team | 18 | 16 | 27 |
| N/A...Would report the incident | 48 | 51 | 32 |

**Percent of Respondents**

**Comparison Groups**

**Note:  Respondents could select multiple responses to this item.**