Many educational and psychological survey questionnaires contain item response categories which may have different meanings to different people. Students who had previously answered Pace's College Student Experiences questionnaire by checking one of four response categories (i.e. never, occasionally, often, very often) were selected to obtain a second set of responses to seven of the activities in order to test the extent of divergent meanings. Students from eight colleges representing four types of institutions were asked to indicate "never,""once or twice during the year,""about three to six times during the year,""about one or twice a month,""about once a week," or "more than once a week" to the following activities: (1) used library card catalogue; (2) made appointment with a faculty member; (3) summarized class notes; (4) attended a student event; (5) asked opinion of peers on one's writing ability; (6) identified with a character in a book; and (7) had philosophical discussion with peers. Results indicated overlap between what is meant by occasionally, often, and very often. These terms signified somewhat greater frequency at selective liberal arts colleges and somewhat less frequency at comprehensive colleges, with denominational colleges and state universities falling in between. (RL)