The effects of diversity training on specific and general attitudes toward diversity

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of watching a video providing knowledge about either a Sikh student or an older student on participants' knowledge about each particular group, their attitudes towards that group.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a pre‐post experimental design and examined the effects of diversity awareness training using a short web‐based video.

Findings

Results indicated that watching a Sikh video significantly increased knowledge of Sikhs and had a marginally significant effect on improving attitudes toward that target group. Additionally, White participants experienced a greater positive attitude change towards Sikhs than non‐White participants. There were no significant effects on knowledge or attitude change for older individuals. However, watching either video was associated with a decline in participants' multiculturalism attitudes.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that further work is needed on the effects of specifically focused diversity training as well as more general multicultural training. The study only examined short‐term change in participants' knowledge and attitudes: more research is needed to examine the long‐term effects of diversity training.

Practical implications

The results indicate that organizations should perform some type of need assessment prior to conducting diversity training because narrowly focused diversity training is not likely to have generalized effects.

Originality/value

The paper should interest academics and practitioners since there is very little research that has examined how diversity training works and whether it is effective.

Citation

Singh Badhesha, R., Schmidtke, J.M., Cummings, A. and Moore, S.D. (2008), "The effects of diversity training on specific and general attitudes toward diversity", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 87-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970810883360