Students’ Grade Expectations and Work Ethic in College: Evidence of the Entitlement Generation

Abstract

This study uses the responses from 235 business students enrolled in introductory-level accounting courses at a university in the Northeastern region of the United States. The data collected on both male-and-female students were analyzed and then compared by gender and to the results from a 25-year old study. These comparisons support both gender and generational differences found in prior studies. We also had significant findings with respect to responding in a socially desirable manner. The current data suggest that today’s students expect higher grades and were less satisfied by hard work than students were 25 years ago.