Describe how you would set up this work sampling experiment at your school, and, if your teacher is agreeable, carry out this project. Also, describe how you might alter the work sample to analyze other faculty work activities.

At several recent meetings of the faculty senate at State University there has been discussion of media reports that college faculty are more concerned about their research than about teaching and, specifically, that faculty don’t spend enough time working with students, which should be their main task. These media reports imply that faculty work only during the time they are in class, which for most faculty is between 6 and 12 hours per week. The faculty believes this information is misleading and dangerous to higher education in general. The faculty representatives on the senate claim that the time they spend in class is only a small portion of their actual workload, and although they spend some time on their research, they also dedicate a large portion of their time outside of class to class preparation and meeting with students. Unfortunately, few people outside of the faculty appear to believe this, including the students, parents, certain legislators, and, recently, several highly placed university administrators.