Discussion: Psychological Research in Affirmative Action

Colleges and universities often struggle to address potential issues of inequality in their admissions processes. Many also have a need to honor alumni who have supported them. The struggle results in admissions preferences described in Reading 32. The reading highlights legacy admissions, which are reserved for applicants who have a family member who either has graduated from the institution or has donated a significant amount of money to it. The reading considers this preference in contrast to affirmative action preferences. While legacy admissions may benefit applicants who often are white, affirmative action gives preference to minorities. Reading 37 points out legal cases in Michigan that ruled on cases related to affirmative action.

The issue of affirmative action spurs research on psychological constructs such as attitudes and perceptions. Since you are studying racial and ethnic inequality in the context of psychology, it is valuable for you to consider psychological research on affirmative action.

To prepare for this Discussion:

- Review Readings 32 and 37 in the course text. Pay particular attention to affirmative action.

- Use the key terms affirmative action and higher education to locate scholarly articles available in the PsycINFO database in the Walden University library. Select an article that reports on a research study having to do with affirmative action in higher education that focuses on at least one psychological construct (such as attitudes and perceptions). Do not select any articles from law journals as you are not examining the legal aspects of affirmative action; instead you are examining psychological aspects about this issue.

- Think about the psychological construct(s) that the study addresses and its relationship to affirmative action.

- Consider the impact that the results of the study may have on inequality in higher education.
With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief summary of the article that you selected, including a description of the setting of the study, the study participants, and a short summary of the findings. Explain whether the constructs of attitudes, perceptions, or beliefs about racial and ethnic identities were supported and how do you think this will impact affirmative action practices? Finally, analyze the impact the results of the study may have on affirmative action in higher education.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources

Article - The Role of Persuasive Arguments in Changing Affirmative Action Attitudes and Expressed Behavior in Higher Education

Fiona A. White, Margaret A. Charles, and Jacqueline K. Nelson