Evaluation of a Classroom Exercise on Social Distance and Discrimination

• Main Author: Trent Maurer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Georgia Southern University 2013-07-01
• Series: International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Subjects: Bogardus social distance scale; Discrimination; Attitude change; Class activity
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/vol7/iss2/18

This project evaluated a class activity on social distance and discrimination using the Bogardus Social Distance Scale. Students [N=266] in six sections of a family development course received either lecture or lecture plus the activity and completed two pretest and posttest measures. Results revealed greater positive shifts on the Scale for students who received the activity, but equivalent changes in attitudes toward the target group as students in the lecture only group. Students in the activity group rated the activity plus lecture as highly as students in the lecture only group rated the lecture. Discussion focused on future directions for development, expansion, and adaptation of this activity to other classes and contexts.