A Methodological framework for evaluating students' perceptions of institutional policies on anti-ragging

Abstract

Ragging remains a critical concern in higher education institutions in India, despite the implementation of regulatory measures such as anti-ragging policies. Existing studies have largely relied on descriptive approaches with limited theoretical grounding, thereby restricting the systematic evaluation of policy effectiveness. Addressing this gap, the present study proposes a multidimensional, theory-driven framework for assessing students’ perceptions of the implementation of institutional anti-ragging policies. The study integrates four key dimensions, awareness, institutional support, enforcement, and perceived safety, derived from established theoretical perspectives in social psychology, organizational behavior, and policy studies.

A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected from 80 students of Banaras Hindu University using a stratified random sampling technique. The researcher developed a 29-item instrument, the Anti-Ragging Policy Perception Scale (split-half reliability = 0.76), to measure students’ perceptions across the identified dimensions. The findings indicate that professional students reported relatively higher perception scores than non-professional students. However, chi-square analysis revealed no statistically significant association with course type or gender.

The results suggest that students’ perceptions of anti-ragging policies are generally consistent across demographic groups, reflecting a degree of uniformity in institutional implementation. The study highlights that effective policy perception depends not only on awareness but also on institutional support mechanisms, consistent enforcement, and a psychologically safe environment.

The study contributes to the literature by providing a standardized and theoretically grounded framework for evaluating institutional policies in higher education. Practically, this framework serves as a reliable diagnostic tool for higher education institutions to audit policy compliance, identify implementation gaps, and cultivate safer, more supportive campus environments.