Calibrating the narratives on the purpose of higher education

Abstract

This article examines the subjective perspectives of faculty and staff on the purpose of a college education. A Q sample administered to 50 professors and staff at a small religiously affiliated university in the Midwest resulted in five factors indicating 5 different subjective understandings of the purpose of education. The five perspectives included Learning and Religion, Intellectual Development, Jobs and Vocations, The Engaged University, and Character and Wisdom. When such pluralism exists on an issue like this, it is likely the educational process will be affected significantly. Certainly, divergence on the purpose of education makes the development of a meaningful assessment program problematic. Q methodology helps to uncover these subjective and hard to measure differences as well as areas of consensus and makes them public for consideration.

Keywords

• Higher education Purpose Q methodology Subjectivity