Comparison of Students’ Attitudes Towards Poverty Following an Interdisciplinary Poverty Simulation

Abstract

Poverty is an ongoing and complex problem in the U.S. Individualistic beliefs about the cause of poverty are associated with more negative attitudes towards poverty, while structural beliefs are associated with more positive attitudes. The use of the Poverty Simulation (MCAN, 2017) has been shown to influence attitudes. The study compared post-poverty simulation findings of different disciplines. Undergraduate students from four disciplines were surveyed following participation in a Poverty Simulation. Researchers focused on quantitative analysis using the Attitude Toward Poverty Short Form (Yun & Weaver, 2010). Students in Nursing, Education, and Communication Disorders viewed poverty with less stigma and were more likely to view poverty as a function of structural factors than business students. The Poverty Simulation is an effective experiential learning component for influencing a change in attitudes toward people in poverty. After participating in the Poverty Simulation, students from different disciplines had varied views regarding those in poverty. Additional interventions may be needed for students to develop more positive attitudes concerning those in poverty.