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Article
Developing Multicultural Awareness in Preschool Children: A Pilot Intervention
Open Journal of Social Sciences
  • Samantha Bellini
  • Vanessa Pereda
  • Nicole Cordero
  • Lourdes Suarez-Morales, Nova Southeastern University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Disciplines
Abstract/Excerpt

The increasing diversity of the U.S. population presents a need to address developing stereotypes. Racial and ethnic attitudes and biases can develop at young ages. The current study examined a pilot classroom intervention, which exposed preschool children to different cultures and considered the intervention’s influence on racial attitudes. Sixteen preschool students in two classrooms were randomly assigned to the experimental condition, multicultural themed lessons, or the control condition, animal themed lessons. Attitudes about children of various ethnicities were assessed before and after the intervention. Variables considered included same group bias and outgroup bias. The results indicated that children who received the multicultural intervention changed favorably their attitudes towards children of other ethnicities compared to children who did not receive the experimental intervention. This study demonstrates that attitudes and biases towards others may be influenced through early education and increased awareness.

DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jss.2016.47028
Citation Information
Samantha Bellini, Vanessa Pereda, Nicole Cordero and Lourdes Suarez-Morales. "Developing Multicultural Awareness in Preschool Children: A Pilot Intervention" Open Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 4 Iss. 7 (2016) p. 182 - 189 ISSN: 2327-5960
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lourdes-suarez-morales/59/