Evaluation of an Experimental Course in Race Relations

Abstract

Universities and colleges have developed many new courses concerned with race relations. Objectives of these courses have been far-reaching and it has been particularly difficult to evaluate their effectiveness. Out comes are often not clearly described. This study examined student experiences with minority groups before, during, and after taking an experimental course in race relations. We observed differences in the experiences with minority groups of open-minded, moderate, and closed-minded students who took the course, and differences in the experiences with minority groups of students who were more or less satisfied with the course. The sam ple was made up of 69 percent (N = 66) of the students who completed the course. Students said they had first heard of more of the well known minority individuals and had had more interpersonal relations with members of minority groups before taking the course. Most had visited or heard of more of the communityagencies and coun cils while taking the course. At the conclusion of the course, a large number still had not read most of the books, magazines, and newspapers. Open-minded students had had more experiences with minority groups than had mod erates before taking the course. The degree to which students were open or closed minded was also related to their number of non-experiences with both minority group people and minority literature at the conclusion of the course. Surprisingly, closed minded students were more satisfied with the course. More satisfied students read less about minority groups after the course was completed. Finally, the results indicated no significant differ ences in the experiences before, during, and after the course of students who were more and less satisfied with the course.