ERIC Number: ED508971
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Nov-19
Pages: 76
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Diversity and Educational Benefits: Moving Beyond Self-Reported Questionnaire Data
Herzog, Serge
Education Working Paper Archive
Effects of ethnic/racial diversity among students and faculty on cognitive growth of undergraduate students are estimated via a series of hierarchical linear and multinomial logistic regression models. Using objective measures of compositional, curricular, and interactional diversity based on actuarial course enrollment records of over 6,000 students at a public research university, the study finds no patterns of positive correlation with objective measures of cumulative academic achievement (i.e., final graduating GPA, GRE/GMAT test scores, graduate school enrollment) net of academic preparation at college entry and socio-demographic background, and with or without accounting for academic major, college curricular experience, and financial aid. Results are consistent with student self-assessed level of critical thinking skills after graduation, but not with self-assessed level of understanding of racial and cultural issues, both affective outcomes showing a positive correlation with curricular diversity. As the findings contradict most of the higher education literature on survey-based cognitive benefits of ethnic/racial diversity, the study calls for use of objective measures to advance the research in this area. (Contains 19 tables, 4 graphs and 10 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Research Universities, Grade Point Average, Thinking Skills, Student Diversity, Diversity (Faculty), Student Development, Cognitive Development, Correlation, Academic Achievement, Scores, Enrollment Trends, Majors (Students), Student Financial Aid, Socioeconomic Influences, College Preparation, Critical Thinking, Racial Differences, Cultural Influences
Education Working Paper Archive. Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas, 201 Graduate Education Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Tel: 479-575-3172; Fax: 479-575-3196; e-mail: edreform@uark.edu; Web site: http://www.uark.edu/ua/der/EWPA
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Arkansas, Education Working Paper Archive
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Graduate Record Examinations
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A