Housing Aspirations and Expectations of College Students: 1960 and 1988

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to determine the housing aspirations and expectations of current senior college students and to examine those housing aspirations and expectations in relation to those of women-college students in the 1960s (as reported by Montgomery, 1963). The questionnaire to measure housing aspirations and expectations was designed using the one developed by Montgomery as a model. Data for the study were collected from college seniors at two universities in the spring term of 1988. Seventy-five percent of the 1000 questionnaires mailed were returned. Differences between males and females were examined using the T-test, and comparisons of the percentage of students selecting each response were made for items utilized in both this study and the one reported by Montgomery using 1960 data.

Data collected from the 1988 respondents revealed that 98 percent planned to purchase a single family dwelling sometime in their lifetime. These college seniors desired many “upscale” housing features, but were usually realistic in their expectations as to features that would be present in their first purchased house. Results of the T-test analysis indicated a greater number of differences between males and females with regard to features desired as compared with features expected.

Of the data collected that were comparable to the 1960 study, students in 1988 were found to have many different expectations and desires. College seniors in 1988 were more likely to want a contemporary home with fewer bedrooms than those in 1960. Features such as dishwashers and food waste disposers were expected by the 1988 sample at least as often as they were desired by students in the 1960s.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rosemary Canicci Goss

Rosemary Carucci Goss is an Associate Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg

Carol V. Dagwell

Carol V. Dagwell is an Associate Professor at Radford University in Radford, Virginia.