ERIC Number: ED348456
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1991
Pages: 22
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceptions of Racial Interaction in the School: The Racial Climate Survey.
Bacon, Tina P.; And Others
This study examines responses to a survey that assessed perceptions of racial relations in schools to highlight areas that would benefit most from school attention. The Racial Climate Survey was administered to 2,882 students and 377 teachers/administrators in a large school district in Florida. An exploratory factor analysis of the 12-item survey showed that items could be grouped into 3 themes: (1) perceptions of personal interactions; (2) perceptions of administrators' and teachers' respect and fairness for students of different races; and (3) perceptions of students' social interactions. Estimates of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient were 0.77 for the total score, 0.81 for Factor I, 0.72 for Factor II, and 0.50 for Factor III. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to examine factor differences between school staff and students, males and females, and racial groups. School staff had significantly more positive perceptions of personal interactions and more positive perceptions of administrators' and teachers' respect and fairness than did students. Staff and students perceived students' social interactions as being less positive. Black staff members and Black students had fewer positive perceptions of fairness of treatment for students of different races (White, Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, and American Indian). Included are 10 references and 6 tables. (RLC)
Descriptors: Administrator Attitudes, American Indians, Asian Americans, Black Students, Educational Environment, Elementary Secondary Education, Hispanic Americans, Interpersonal Competence, Racial Attitudes, Racial Bias, Racial Discrimination, Racial Relations, School Surveys, Student Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, White Students
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A