Active Shooters on Campus: Student Perceptions and Institutional Recommendations at the University of Mississippi

This study was part of a larger survey that examined crime on a college campus, attitudes about crime on campus, and knowledge about crime on campus. The objective of this study in particular was to evaluate students\u27 knowledge and perceptions about active shooters on campus, and how these factors are influenced by gender. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with current students at the Oxford Campus of the University of Mississippi (N = 482). We hypothesized that female participants would show lower confidence in their ability to respond to (self-efficacy), and higher perceived likelihood and fearfulness of an active shooter event. The data suggest that the difference in gender between all of these factors was significant. In terms of self-efficacy, the difference in genders was statistically significant, t (479) = 6.71, p \u3c 0.001, d = 0.66. In terms of perceived likelihood, the difference between genders was statistically significant, t (479) = -2.98, p \u3c 0.05, d = -0.3. Finally, in terms of fearfulness, the difference between genders was statistically significant, t (479) = -5.28, p \u3c 0.001, d = -0.52. Active shooter situations are on a rise in the United States, and this study provides some recommendations on an institutional level. These data begin to suggest portions of the student population on campus who could benefit from increased availability of information and targeted training