The Effects of Classroom and Informal-Interactional Diversity on Learning and Democracy Outcomes

<p>Exposure to increased diversity has been found to produce beneficial results in both learning and democracy outcomes across races; however, this relationship is more consistent for White students than students of color (Gurin, Dey, Hurtado, & Gurin, 2002). Using the data from a campus-wide diversity survey, the relationship between two types of diversity (informal-interactional and classroom) with learning and democracy outcomes was examined in a mid-sized university. Additional analyses were conducted to identify trends in diversity attitude and perception of campus climate toward diversity. Increased classroom diversity and informal-interactional diversity were both found to be related to increased learning and democracy outcomes for White students. For students of color, only classroom diversity was related to increased learning and democracy outcomes. Students of color and females were found to possess more positive attitudes toward diversity. Students of color perceived the more negative campus diversity climate than did White students.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Psychological Sciences

Year

2015

Author dc:creator

• Williams, Chloe Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Elizabeth Shoenfelt (Director), Reagan Brown, and Amber Schroeder

• classroom diversity
• informal-interaction diversity
• race
• learning outcomes
• democracy outcomes
• Psychology
• Social Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1487

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2494