This study does have its limitations that may have contributed to the insignificant results.

A total of 12
males and 38 females participated in this study, which slants the data to mainly represent female selfesteem levels.
Crocker et al. (2003) described the differences in self-esteem attainment between males and females
as being based on fulfilling the goals ascribed to their gender, such as males need for independence,
autonomy, separation, and superiority to others. Crocker et al. (2003) went on to state that female
self-esteem is based on being sensitive to, attuned to, connected to, and generally interdependent
with others (p. 896). Self-esteem is lower overall for females than males in college (Frost & McKelvie,
2004); therefore, undergraduate male college students tend to show significantly higher self-esteem
than females. When observing the ISE, one may argue that the items on the ISE tend to be more
gender related to females because the questions tend to focus on connection and interdependence
with others rather than independence and superiority that Crocker et al. (2003) described as the basis
of male self-esteem.
Further research is needed because it is unclear whether a significant relationship does exist between
the self-esteem of freshmen and seniors. The present study seems to suggest that a relationship does
not exist. When conducting further research, it may be beneficial to obtain a random sample from
other Christian colleges in the Midwest rather than a particular subgroup or gain a sample that is not
voluntary but is more representative of the population as a whole. This would provide a more
representative sample from the population of undergraduate freshmen and seniors who attend a
Christian college.
This study used the Index of Self-Esteem (ISE) (Hudson, 1982). The ISE is comprised of 25 items
designed to measure the degree, severity, or magnitude of a problem a client has with self-esteem
(Hudson, 1982, p. 188). The items are rated on a Likert scale of 1-5 with a score of 30 or above
indicating that the participants have a low self-esteem and a score of below 30 indicating that the
participant has a high self-esteem. This index has good construct validity and known-group validity.
The ISE has a mean alpha of .93 that indicates internal reliability in a two-hour test-retest. Sample
questions include: I feel that people would not like me if they really knew me well, I feel that others
get along much better than I do, and I feel that I am a beautiful person.

Self-Esteem and Class Standing in Liberal Arts Undergraduate

College Students
Katie Mitchel, Stephanie Smith, and Jenny Simpson
Huntington University
Crocker, J., Luhtanen, R., & Cooper, M. (2003). Contingencies of self-worth in college students: Theory
and measurement. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 85(5), 894-908.

2008

In the study of Katie Mitchel et al. (2008) showed that males are high self-esteem compared to
females. Crocker et al. (2003) described the differences in self-esteem attainment between males
and females as being based on fulfilling the goals ascribed to their gender, such as males need
for independence, autonomy, separation, and superiority to others. Crocker et al. (2003) went on
to state that female self-esteem is based on being sensitive to, attuned to, connected to, and
generally interdependent with others.