Date of Completion
2022
Thesis Type
College of Arts and Science Honors
Department
Department of Psychological Science
First Advisor
Dr. Antonio Cepeda-Benito
Keywords
Racism, Microaggressions, Prejudice, Diversity, College Education Requirements
Abstract
Examinations of the effectiveness of diversity course requirements on reducing racial prejudice tend to suggest no effects of course participation on attitudes, and no research has examined their effect on racial behaviors. In the current survey, 263 participants completed measures of prejudicial and ally attitudes and behaviors towards racial and ethnic minorities and answered questions about their experience in diversity trainings and courses. Students who had completed a diversity course rated it highly and indicated feeling that they achieved the learning outcomes. Those who had not tended to believe they would be beneficial and were generally excited to take them. There were no significant results found between participants who had and had not completed a required diversity course on any of the measures of prejudiced attitudes, microaggressive behaviors, or ally behaviors. Results from this study should be used to understand students’ feelings about taking diversity courses and can offer a starting point for future research to examine which aspects of diversity courses are effective at altering racial behavior.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Sierra A., "Examining Diversity Course Requirements: Students Value Diversity-Based Courses, but Taking them Does Not Impact Self-Reported Prejudicial and Ally Attitudes and Behaviors" (2022). UVM College of Arts and Sciences College Honors Theses. 168.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/castheses/168