Exploring Undergraduate Student Attitudes Toward Affirmative Action

• In Event: 45.044 - Increasing Racial Diversity in Higher Education: A Look at Attitudes and Impacts of College Admission Policies and Practices

Abstract

This study examines undergraduate engineering students’ attitudes towards affirmative action (AA). The conceptual framework was adapted from previous studies, and incorporated Bonilla-Silva’s color-blind racism theory. A hierarchical regression was conducted to examine the influence of demographic characteristics, personal variables, and beliefs relevant to AA on overall attitude towards AA. After controlling for other factors, demographic characteristics were not significant predictors of overall attitude towards AA. Results indicate that beliefs relevant to affirmative action are significant predictors of attitude towards AA.

Author

• Lydia Ross, Arizona State University