Beyond the Letters

My project

This project was centered around the question:

How do stereotypes about Greek life compare to the actual experiences of students in fraternities and sororities at Texas Tech University?

To investigate this, I examined both external perceptions from non greek members and internal experiences from greek affiliated students. This project is primarily based on original data I collected from current students at Texas Tech University.

Important Information

This research project matters because it gives incoming freshman insight that could positively benefit their Greek life expereince. By providing raw data from the school, it can help those students better understand certain questions they may be wondering. Ultimately, this project aims to go beyond assumptions and give real statistics of what Greek life is really like at Texas Tech University.

While my project provides very valubale research, there are some limitations to consider when going through my website:

The sample size is limited due to the amount of students who didn't participate in my research
Some responses reflect personal expereinces or opinions that can create biased results
My research focuses specifically on one campus only, so the data provided doesn't represent all universities

Primary Research

1. Surveys

Two separate surveys were conducted:

Non-Greek Students

For the Non-Greek Students survey I focused on the perceptions and stereotypes they have heard about Greek life, and which ones they believe are true. I asked why they didn’t join a Greek organization and what their personal interactions were like with Greek members.

Greek-Affiliated Students

For the Greek-Affiliated Students survey I focused on what their experience was like joining a Greek organization, what motivated them to join, if they were aware of the stereotypes/ or if they believed in them, and how they felt towards non-greek members.

2. Observations

I observed campus Greek events to better understand how organizations present themselves publicly, how members interact with non-members, and the structure and purpose of Greek events.

Secondary Research

While this project is mostly primary based research, secondary research was also used to provide context for understanding how stereotypes about Greek life are developed. Below are some of the secondary sources I will be using:

Media and Entertainment

TV shows and movies often exaggerate Greek life culture in ways to make it look more “fun”. Focusing on only partying or conflict within Greek life can shape certain perspectives, especially for incoming students who have not yet experienced the college culture themselves.

Social Media

Social Media platforms tend to highlight the visible engagement of Greek life, such as their events, social gatherings, and what they post to the media. But you don’t often get to see behind the scenes of a Greek life member, like what their responsibilities are within the chapter, their leadership roles, or their organizational structure.

General College Culture

On a more broader discussion of Greek/college life, whether it’s through online platforms or by gossip, they all often include very strong opinions towards Greek life. These types of narratives can influence how a incoming student may look at Greek life.