The Influence of Multicultural Activities on Students' Colorblind Racial Ideology
Numerous studies have revealed the necessity of a multicultural curriculum and how it will help students in a diverse society. Magner (as cited in Pewewardy and Frey, 2002) observed that in the new millennium over one-third of the nation will be people of color. Multicultural programming in higher education is important to better equip future leaders for not only a diverse campus environment, but for a diverse society as a well. The purpose of this study is to explore the relations between the completion of multicultural activities (including courses) and Color Blind Racial Ideology (CBRI). Color Blind Racial Ideology is defined as a person who denies that racism exists and pretends that it is not there. Approximately 640 students at a predominantly white university completed a web-based survey May 2007. In general, as predicted the completion of more diversity activities was related to lower racial color-blindness (r=.43), as well as completion of more diversity courses was related to lower racial color-blindness (r=-.35).
School:
Grambling State University
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Helen Neville
Department of Research Advisor:
Educational Psychology
Year of Publication:
2007