Students’ Race and Participation in Classroom Discussion in Introductory Sociology: A Preliminary Investigation

Jay R. Howard, Butler University
Aimee Zoeller
Yale Pratt

Abstract

This study utilizes observation, survey and interview methodologies to investigate the impact of student race on participation in discussion in introductory sociology courses at a large Midwestern US university with a minority enrollment of approximately 15 percent. While results are mixed there is some evidence that white students participated at a higher rate than minority students. However, in certain circumstances (e.g., discussion of racism), minority students became the “experts” during particular class sessions and participated at a greater rate than did white students.