The gap — with 79 percent of respondents saying there is a generation gap in viewpoint — is greater than data from CBS and The New York Times in 1979, which showed 60 percent of respondents saying there was a gap.

Values and morality are at the top of a list of potential causes for the gap between the groups, followed by general outlook, experience/wisdom and politics/policy, according to the report.

In all three groups surveyed — younger, middle-aged and older adults — morality and ethics rank at about 13 percent of respondents saying those were the most obvious gap. Older and younger groups differed when it came to a sense of entitlement, with 15 percent of the older group (30 years old or more) saying it was an obvious generational gap as opposed to only 3 percent of the younger group (18-29 years old).

Mathematics graduate student Matthew O’Toole said the basic morals are similar between the generations, but there still are differences.

“I think every generation is different in the way that people think and it evolves over time,” he said. “People who are older and middle-aged are going to have a different view on things than students right now.”

Kathy Stansbury, an MSU associate professor of family and child ecology, said she doesn’t think differences in morality are as big of a gap as those dealing with work ethic and entitlement.

“I have a sense as a college professor that students do seem to have more of a sense of entitlement than I recall,” she said. “I don’t believe there’s a moral or belief gap — I believe younger people are just as moral, just as ethical, just as strong in their beliefs as older people.”

General outlook on life was the second highest ranked perception of generation gap. This includes perspectives and ideas, likes and dislikes and priorities.

Psychology professor Linda Jackson said the younger generation was raised in an atmosphere of higher self-esteem than other generations.

“Students today think very well of themselves,” she said. “They think they should be getting good grades and when they don’t they think it’s the professor’s fault, rather than take responsibility.”

She said technology also seems to be a cause of the generation gap, such as younger people using texting and cell phones.

In the 18-29 group, 8 percent said technology caused the gap whereas the 30 years and older group showed 5 percent who thought technology was the cause.

Health studies and economics senior Alyssa Vargo said the younger generation is more used to technology.

“I think we as a younger generation are more adapted to new technology,” she said.

Social work senior Lydia Ormsby said technology might affect students differently than those in the older generation.

“Students our age are less vocal in class — there’s less face-to-face communication,” Ormsby said.