Multi-Cultural Experiences and Understanding
Location
CSU 201
Start Date
16-4-2013 11:10 AM
End Date
16-4-2013 12:10 PM
Student's Major
Psychology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
The primary goal of my research project is to understand cultural understanding among college students at MSU. My research relates to “the contact hypothesis”, developed by American psychologist Gordon Willard Allport. The contact hypothesis briefly describes what situations are necessary for cultural understanding amongst two different types of groups to occur. This is important because this will help us understand relationships, and connections formed within college. The information from this research could be used by event planners’ that focus on creating diversity events that educated students’ about different types of people and cultures. My research design is an online survey that consists of two questionnaires, one of which has six questions and the other of which has 10 questions. My survey asks questions to find answers to my hypothesis, which is that in order for someone to gain true cultural understanding of a culture different from her/his own, she/he not only has to have some type of interaction or connection with someone from a different background, but she/he must have actively sought out the connection (as compared to if the interaction was somehow required or was an accident). I hope to find a connection between seeking out a cultural experience and developing cultural understanding. I will also present some ideas on how to improve cultural understanding and how to increase the number of students actively seeking an interaction with ethnic and culture groups different from their own.
Multi-Cultural Experiences and Understanding
CSU 201
The primary goal of my research project is to understand cultural understanding among college students at MSU. My research relates to “the contact hypothesis”, developed by American psychologist Gordon Willard Allport. The contact hypothesis briefly describes what situations are necessary for cultural understanding amongst two different types of groups to occur. This is important because this will help us understand relationships, and connections formed within college. The information from this research could be used by event planners’ that focus on creating diversity events that educated students’ about different types of people and cultures. My research design is an online survey that consists of two questionnaires, one of which has six questions and the other of which has 10 questions. My survey asks questions to find answers to my hypothesis, which is that in order for someone to gain true cultural understanding of a culture different from her/his own, she/he not only has to have some type of interaction or connection with someone from a different background, but she/he must have actively sought out the connection (as compared to if the interaction was somehow required or was an accident). I hope to find a connection between seeking out a cultural experience and developing cultural understanding. I will also present some ideas on how to improve cultural understanding and how to increase the number of students actively seeking an interaction with ethnic and culture groups different from their own.
Recommended Citation
Scaife, Lamont. "Multi-Cultural Experiences and Understanding." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 16, 2013.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2013/oral-session-06/3
