How university diversity rationales inform student preferences and outcomes
Jordan G Starck1, Stacey Sinclair2, J Nicole Shelton2
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540 jstarck@princeton.edu.
Summary
Higher education
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Higher Education Studies
- Sociology
Background:
- Universities commonly state commitments to diversity and inclusion.
- US Supreme Court rulings often favor diversity rationales emphasizing educational benefits.
- Moral rationales for diversity, based on intrinsic values like justice, have historically been prominent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively and experimentally examine how instrumental diversity rationales align with White and Black American preferences.
- To contrast instrumental rationales with intrinsic moral rationales for diversity.
- To investigate the prevalence of instrumental diversity rationales in higher education and their correlation with educational outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted to assess preferences and expectations regarding diversity rationales.
- University websites were coded to identify the prevalence of instrumental and moral diversity rationales.
- Admissions staff were surveyed regarding diversity rationales and student outcomes.
Main Results:
- Instrumental rationales resonated with White Americans' preferences but not Black Americans'.
- Parents and admissions staff anticipated poorer outcomes for Black students at universities using instrumental rationales.
- Instrumental rationales are more prevalent than moral ones and correlate with increased White-Black graduation disparities, especially where moral rationales are scarce.
Conclusions:
- The dominant rationale for diversity in higher education favors White Americans' preferences and outcomes over minority groups.
- Instrumental diversity rationales may inadvertently exacerbate racial disparities in educational attainment.
- Institutional decision-making regarding diversity should consider the non-legal consequences of chosen rationales.
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