ERIC Number: EJ771458
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-5627
EISSN: N/A
Cross-Racial Friendships and Social Distance between Racial Groups on a College Campus
Odell, Patricia; Korgen, Kathleen; Wang, Gabe
Innovative Higher Education, v29 n4 p291-305 Jun 2005
This study examined the effectiveness of curriculum-focused diversity initiatives on a college campus by determining the relationships between GPA, social class, year in school, residential status, racial diversity courses taken, and cross-racial friendships on the level of social distance between Whites-Blacks, Whites-Hispanics, Hispanics-Whites, Hispanics-Blacks, Blacks-Whites, and Blacks-Hispanics. The data suggest that, while the institution does a good job of bringing diverse groups of students to the campus, it does not effectively reduce the level of social distance among many members of the different racial groups on campus. Using the Intergroup Contact Hypothesis, the article concludes by suggesting means by which social distance among racial groups on campus might be decreased.
Descriptors: Social Class, Grade Point Average, Friendship, Racial Differences, Racial Relations, Student Diversity, College Students, Correlation, Social Influences, Age Differences, Place of Residence, Cultural Pluralism, African American Students, White Students, Hispanic American Students, Consciousness Raising, Educational Environment
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2189
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A