Reducing college students’ social perception biases through social network intervention

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, using complex network analysis, we conducted a one-year including two semesters to investigate the effect of social network intervention on college students’ social perception biases. One hundred and seventy college students participated in this study. Social network intervention was implemented in the second semester. Through changing individuals’ social neighbors and being augmented with four collaborative activities, modeling analysis showed students’ social perception biases were contingent on the level of homophily of their personal networks. Results also showed students’ social perception biases were significantly reduced after old social relationships being broken up and new social relationships being built. Furthermore, in the individual interviews, students reported heterogeneous re-grouping ensued by social network intervention offered them with opportunities of “Diversity of thinking”, “Creation of argumentative climates” and “Open-mindedness and inclusiveness change”.