An Inconvenient Truth About "Progress": An Analysis of the Promises and Perils of Research on Campus Diversity Initiatives

Patton, Lori D.; Sánchez, Belém Priego; Mac, Jacqueline; Stewart, Dafina–Lazarus

doi:10.1353/rhe.2019.0049

“…Sound intervention necessitates scientific evidence but the literature is often lacking. Among more than 2,000 articles about campus diversity initiatives, fewer than 2% evaluated the efficacy of diversity-focused efforts (Patton et al, 2019). Our review supports the usefulness of identity safety cues, although we recognize the possible overrepresentation of studies showing significant results (cue effects) than studies with nonsignificant results (a lack of cue effects) because of systematic publication bias in favor of significant, positive, and exciting findings (see Nosek et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A taxonomy of identity safety cues based on gender and race: From a promising past to an intersectional and translational future.

Kruk¹,

Matsick²

2021

Translational Issues in Psychological Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Identity safety cues refer to aspects of the environment or social setting that communicate one is valued and the threat of discrimination is limited. In this article, we review the content of identity safety cues, their strengths and limitations, and implications for future theory, research, and practice. A close analysis of the identity safety cue literature can inform the efforts of individuals and organizations who aim to enhance social inclusion and promote diversity. Searching databases for safety cue research (e.g., Google Scholar, PsycINFO), we found more than 35 peer-reviewed articles that explicitly addressed identity safety cues. We synthesized the literature to produce a novel taxonomy of identity safety cues that target stigmatized groups, namely those minoritized by gender and race. A taxonomy of identity safety cues can facilitate clear and universal communication about the science, delineate types of operational definitions, and direct future research and theorizing. Our review revealed that knowledge of cues is often limited by unidimensional identity characteristics (i.e., targeting gender or race, not both), and we discovered four cue categories that induced identity safety: minority representation, diversity philosophies and programming, environmental features, and identity-safe information. The significance of this review is that, beyond establishing the only known taxonomy of identity safety cues, we critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of cue efficacy and provide a forward-thinking discussion of theoretical implications and broader impacts, focusing on the expansion of intersectionality theorizing and the translation of identity safety cue research.What is the significance of this article for the general public?This article accelerates knowledge for creating environments that make minoritized groups feel welcomed, valued, and protected from stigmatization. We found that the scientific literature provides four categories of effective identity safety cues (i.e., aspects of settings that communicate support and safety from stigma): having other minoritized people present, stating commitments to diversity, displaying physical features that signal inclusive norms and values, and providing information that conveys fair and positive expectations.

show abstract

“…Sound intervention necessitates scientific evidence but the literature is often lacking. Among more than 2,000 articles about campus diversity initiatives, less than 2% evaluated the efficacy of diversityfocused efforts (Patton et al, 2019). Our review supports the usefulness of identity safety cues, though we recognize the possible overrepresentation of studies showing significant results (cue effects) than studies with non-significant results (a lack of cue effects) because of systematic publication bias in favor of significant, positive, and exciting findings (see Nosek et al, 2012).…”

Section: Translation Of Identity Safety Cues Research and Broader Impactsmentioning

confidence: 53%

A Taxonomy of Identity Safety Cues Based on Gender and Race: From a Promising Past to an Intersectional and Translational Future

Matsick¹,

Kruk²

2021

Preprint

1

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Identity safety cues refer to aspects of the environment or social setting that communicate one is valued and the threat of discrimination is limited. In this article, we review the content of identity safety cues, their strengths and limitations, and implications for future theory, research, and practice. A close analysis of the identity safety cue literature can inform the efforts of individuals and organizations who aim to enhance social inclusion and promote diversity. Searching databases for safety cue research (e.g., Google Scholar, PsycINFO), we found more than 35 peer-reviewed articles that explicitly addressed identity safety cues. We synthesized the literature to produce a novel taxonomy of identity safety cues that target stigmatized groups, namely those minoritized by gender and race. A taxonomy of identity safety cues can facilitate clear and universal communication about the science, delineate types of operational definitions, and direct future research and theorizing. Our review revealed that knowledge of cues is often limited by unidimensional identity characteristics (i.e., targeting gender or race, not both), and we discovered four cue categories that induced identity safety: minority representation, diversity philosophies and programming, environmental features, and identity-safe information. The significance of this review is that, beyond establishing the only known taxonomy of identity safety cues, we critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of cue efficacy and provide a forward-thinking discussion of theoretical implications and broader impacts, focusing on the expansion of intersectionality theorizing and the translation of identity safety cue research.

show abstract

“…Locating the importance of religion on public campuses is also something that may motivate executive university leaders, such as presidents, provosts, and chief diversity officers toward change in their institution. Other diversity-related research has emphasized the need for university leadership-complete with executive priorities and practice-to serve as the mobilization force behind efforts designed to make public education inclusive of all identities (Hoffman and Mitchell 2016;Patton et al 2019). High-level leadership is perhaps exemplified by what one staff member shared at one of the institutions in our study about "administrators who are supportive of interfaith as a benefit to our students...the fact that we've become an official commission that advises the president on issues of faith at the university is a testament to that".…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

StateChurch: Bringing Religion to Public Higher Education

Shaheen

¹

,

Mayhew

²

,

Staples

³

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Religion undeniably impacts life in modern society in numerous ways. In the U.S., discussions about religion in public life often start at the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution as fundamental to the separation of church and state. Public higher education does not necessarily share established associations with any religion, but is not free from religious influence. Although Christian influences are undeniably present on public campuses, educators hesitate to discuss religion and spirituality due in part to a pedestrian understanding of the establishment clause and epistemologies that artificially equate secularism with intellectualism. This paper examines case studies conducted at five public U.S. institutions. Focus groups and interviews highlight what different public campuses are doing to address religious diversity, and how they are succeeding or failing to accommodate the needs of students. Findings indicate that executive leaders’ attitudes towards religious diversity on campus are essential for sustained interfaith efforts, but fell short without bottom-up buy-in. Faculty in particular served as key bottom-up leaders for interfaith motivation on campus with students often feeling most comfortable exploring different worldviews within the classroom. This study provides reasonable and responsible pathways toward helping locate religion within public education, and substantiating interfaith ideas as necessary for an informed and responsible global citizenry.

show abstract

An Inconvenient Truth About "Progress": An Analysis of the Promises and Perils of Research on Campus Diversity Initiatives

Cited by 48 publications

References 67 publications

A taxonomy of identity safety cues based on gender and race: From a promising past to an intersectional and translational future.

A taxonomy of identity safety cues based on gender and race: From a promising past to an intersectional and translational future.

A Taxonomy of Identity Safety Cues Based on Gender and Race: From a Promising Past to an Intersectional and Translational Future

StateChurch: Bringing Religion to Public Higher Education

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About