Is the Construct of "Cultural Mistrust" Still Relevant to College Students in the Age of Social Media?

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: Emerging Perspectives on Social Media and the College Student Experience

Abstract

Cognitive interviews and focus groups were used to assess the validity of Terrell and Terrell’s (1981) “cultural mistrust” conceptualization, and the Cultural Mistrust Inventory (CMI) items used to measure the construct for present-day college students of color and their online communications. Findings suggest that Terrell and Terrell’s (1981) “cultural mistrust” conceptualization is inadequate for measuring today’s college students’ of color’s understanding of cultural mistrust, as well as their perceptions of cultural mistrust online. A revision of the CMI items is proposed.

Authors

• Ana M. Martinez-Aleman, Boston College

• Nicole Barone, Boston College

• Heather T. Rowan-Kenyon, Boston College

• ADAM MCCREADY, Boston College