One possibility is that you're not framing the question in terms of research on this topic. So they might answer based on the politically correct answer or their gut reaction which is that discrimination happens all the time in all contexts. It might help to place the question in the context of a specific study (in class, we discussed research on x and y by p and q which showed that ... ) or research in general (research shows that ....). Marie
Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Associate Professor l Department of Psychology Kaufman 168 l Dickinson College Phone 717.245.1562 l Fax 717.245.1971 Office hours: Monday 10:30-11:30, Tuesday and Wednesday 2:00-3:30 PM http://users.dickinson.edu/~helwegm/index.html -----Original Message----- From: Jim Clark [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 1:21 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Student resistance to some ideas? Hi In my culture and psych course, I spend some time on the idea that (at least in modern times) overt discrimination tends to be observed mostly under ambiguous situations (e.g., poking studies, ignoring evidence showing innocence in mock trials, ...). Nonetheless, when I ask students on tests whether discrimination in favor of white versus non-white applicants is more likely when a. both have strong qualifications b. both have moderate qualifications c. both have weak qualifications d. all of the above Students overwhelmingly choose d. all of the above, even when I occasionally mention casually in class something very close to this scenario. Is there something wrong with the question? Do people have other examples where students appear resistant to acceptance of some taught idea? Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor & Chair of Psychology [email protected] Room 4L41A 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax Dept of Psychology, U of Winnipeg 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R4 CANADA --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13234.b0e864a6eccfc779c8119f5a4468797f&n=T&l=tips&o=25246 or send a blank email to leave-25246-13234.b0e864a6eccfc779c8119f5a44687...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=25262 or send a blank email to leave-25262-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
