Publication Date

Fall 2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Howard Tokunaga

Keywords

Cognitive Empathy, Diveristy, Diversity Attitudes, Diversity Training Demographics, Diversity Traning, Empathy

Subject Areas

Psychology

Abstract

Understanding the perspectives of others and appreciating their differences are important due to diversity increasing in society. However, research on diversity has seldom examined the ineffectiveness of diversity training on attitudes towards societal diversity and cognitive empathy. The present study was conducted to examine how diversity training affects one’s attitudes toward societal diversity and cognitive empathy. It was hypothesized that attitudes towards societal diversity and cognitive empathy would improve as a result of diversity training. Gender and ethnicity were also hypothesized to interact with diversity training such that women and ethnic minorities would show more positive attitudes towards societal diversity and more cognitive empathy than men and non-ethnic minorities. A total of 308 incoming university freshmen students participated in mandatory diversity training. Participants completed pen-and-paper surveys which assessed their attitudes towards societal diversity and cognitive empathy. Consistent with the hypotheses, results showed that both attitudes towards societal diversity and cognitive empathy improved after diversity training. However, there was no interaction effect of gender and ethnicity, suggesting that diversity training was similarly effective for both genders and both ethnicities.

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