Effects of racial diversity on complex thinking in college students

Anthony Lising Antonio; Mitchell J. Chang; Kenji Hakuta; David A. Kenny; Shana Levin; Jeffrey F. Milem

doi:10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00710.x

Effects of racial diversity on complex thinking in college students

Anthony Lising Antonio, Mitchell J. Chang, Kenji Hakuta, David A. Kenny, Shana Levin, Jeffrey F. Milem

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

407 Scopus citations

Abstract

An experiment varying the racial (Black, White) and opinion composition in small-group discussions was conducted with college students (N = 357) at three universities to test for effects on the perceived novelty of group members' contributions to discussion and on participants' integrative complexity. Results showed that racial and opinion minorities were both perceived as contributing to novelty. Generally positive effects on integrative complexity were found when the groups had racial- and opinion-minority members and when members reported having racially diverse friends and classmates. The findings are discussed in the context of social psychological theories of minority influence and social policy implications for affirmative action. The research supports claims about the educational significance of race in higher education, as well as the complexity of the interaction of racial diversity with contextual and individual factors.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	507-510
Number of pages	4
Journal	Psychological Science
Volume	15
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00710.x
State	Published - Aug 2004
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology

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10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00710.x

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title = "Effects of racial diversity on complex thinking in college students",

abstract = "An experiment varying the racial (Black, White) and opinion composition in small-group discussions was conducted with college students (N = 357) at three universities to test for effects on the perceived novelty of group members' contributions to discussion and on participants' integrative complexity. Results showed that racial and opinion minorities were both perceived as contributing to novelty. Generally positive effects on integrative complexity were found when the groups had racial- and opinion-minority members and when members reported having racially diverse friends and classmates. The findings are discussed in the context of social psychological theories of minority influence and social policy implications for affirmative action. The research supports claims about the educational significance of race in higher education, as well as the complexity of the interaction of racial diversity with contextual and individual factors.",

author = "Antonio, {Anthony Lising} and Chang, {Mitchell J.} and Kenji Hakuta and Kenny, {David A.} and Shana Levin and Milem, {Jeffrey F.}",

note = "Funding Information: The research was supported in part by grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation, and by a gift from the Richard Parsons Family Foundation. Expert assistance was provided by Danielle Popp, Tina Gridiron Smith, William Perez, Linda DeAngelo, Lorena Olivarez, Kim Misa, Nancy Cha, and Paul Umbach.",

year = "2004",

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doi = "10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00710.x",

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AU - Chang, Mitchell J.

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AU - Kenny, David A.

AU - Levin, Shana

AU - Milem, Jeffrey F.

N1 - Funding Information: The research was supported in part by grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation, and by a gift from the Richard Parsons Family Foundation. Expert assistance was provided by Danielle Popp, Tina Gridiron Smith, William Perez, Linda DeAngelo, Lorena Olivarez, Kim Misa, Nancy Cha, and Paul Umbach.

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Effects of racial diversity on complex thinking in college students

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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