Journal Article

Diversity and higher education: Theory and impact of educational outcomes

u.a, Gurin, Patricia

2002

Overview

In the current context of legal challenges to affirmative action and race- based considerations in college admissions, educators have been challenged to articulate clearly the educational purposes and benefits of diversity. In this article, the authors explore the relationship between students' experiences with diverse peers in the college or university setting and their educational outcomes. Rooted in theories of cognitive development and social psychology, the authors present a framework for understanding how diversity introduces the relational discontinuities critical to identity construction and its subsequent role in fostering cognitive growth. ... The authors ... examine the effects of classroom diversity and informal interaction among African American, Asian American, Latino/a, and White students on learning and democracy outcomes. The results of their analyses underscore the educational and civic impacts of informal interaction among different racial and ethnic groups during the college years. The authors offer their findings as evidence of the continuing importance of affirmative action and diversity efforts by colleges and universities, not only as a means of increasing access to higher education for a greater number of students, but also as a means of fostering students' academic and scial growth. (DIPF/Orig.)

• Publisher: Harvard University,Harvard Education Press
• Subject: Affirmative Action / African Americans / Asian Americans / Chancengleichheit / Classroom communication / Cognitive Development / College Admission / College admissions / College students / Colleges and universities / Democracy / Demokratie / Diversity (Institutional) / Diversity (Student) / Diversity training / Educational Benefits / Educational Environment / Educational Objectives / Educational policy / Educational Practices / Educational Researchers / Educational sciences / Educational sector / Effects / Empirische Untersuchung / Ethnic Groups / Ethnic minority, racial problems, cultural differences / Ethnische Gruppe / Gleichaltrigengruppe / Heterogenität / Higher Education / Hispanic Americans / Interkulturelles Lernen / Learning / Leistung / Lernerfolg / Longitudinal Studies / Längsschnittuntersuchung / Outcomes of Education / Peer Relationship / Plural societies / Politisches Bewusstsein / Psychology / Social aspects / Social Psychology / Sociology of culture / Sociology of education / Soziale Interaktion / Student / Student Diversity / Theory / United States