Question

Research using the Borgardus social distance scale shows that U.S. college students

a. are less prejudiced than students of fifty years ago
b. believe that Arabs and Muslims should be kept out of the country
c. have the strongest prejudice against African Americans
d. all the above

Answer 1

Studies using the Borgardus social distance scale show that contemporary U.S. college students demonstrate less overt, but still present, subtle forms of prejudice, especially towards Arab-Americans. Cooperative educational methods like the Jigsaw classroom have been effective in reducing these prejudicial attitudes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Research utilizing the Borgardus social distance scale indicates that current U.S. college students display different patterns of prejudice compared to students fifty years ago.

Findings from studies, such as the one conducted by Jenkins et al. (2012), suggest that while overt prejudice is less likely to be reported, subtle forms of prejudice remain. For instance, students showed less willingness for social interaction with Arab-Americans compared to other ethnic groups, revealing underlying prejudicial attitudes despite their claims to the contrary.

Studies also demonstrate that educational and cooperative strategies, such as the Jigsaw classroom technique or focusing on superordinate goals, have been successful in reducing prejudicial attitudes by encouraging diverse groups to work together. This suggests that an increased emphasis on diversity and collaborative work in educational settings can play a crucial role in diminishing prejudice among college students.