Racial Attitude Change During the College Years

• In Event: Higher Education and Society

Abstract

This study draws on longitudinal data from a national sample of American university students to identify the college experiences that may contribute to changes in students’ racial attitudes. Preliminary results suggest that students who made more interracial friendships by the end of their first year were more likely to demonstrate more liberal views on issues of race. Controlling for a host of personal and social factors, in addition to interracial friendships, students’ exposure to faculty members with opinions that differ from their own and taking courses on issues of diversity were positively associated with attitude liberalization.

Authors

• Jesse Rude, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Gregory C. Wolniak, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Ernest T. Pascarella, University of Iowa