عنوان

The Impact of an Educational Intervention on People's Attitudes Regarding the Negative Stereotypes of Muslims

Number

TLpq917734188

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

The Impact of an Educational Intervention on People's Attitudes Regarding the Negative Stereotypes of Muslims

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Ahmad Laiq

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

M. Baran

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Cardinal Stritch University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2011

Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item

195

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ed.D.

Body granting the degree

Cardinal Stritch University

Text preceding or following the note

2011

Text of Note

The lack of knowledge about the true values and tenets of Islam, coupled with the increased acts of terrorism committed by radical fundamentalists both in Europe and in the United States over the last decade, have led to a disconnect between the Western and Islamic cultures. The American public knows very little about the true nature of Islam and Muslims; most of their perceptions are based on negative stereotypes presented in the media (Suleiman, 1999). The purpose of this study was to determine what impact, if any, an educational intervention had on people's attitudes regarding the negative stereotypes of Muslims. Three research questions guided this study: 1. Will an educational intervention decrease the belief that Islam is associated with terrorism? 2. Will an educational intervention decrease negative stereotypes of Muslims as measured by the Bogardus Social Distance Scale (1925)? 3. What is the impact of age, religion, educational level, gender, and ethnicity on people's attitude about negative stereotypes of Muslims? The research methodology chosen for this study was descriptive survey utilizing mixed methods. The research took place at a private urban university located in a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. A sample of 100 undergraduate and graduate students was randomly divided into an experimental and control group. The experimental group watched an educational DVD regarding Islam and Muslims. All students completed the Bogardus Social Distance Scale (1925) which is a 7-item instrument using a Guttman Scale. Two student focus groups validated the data generated by the quantitative findings. The results were generally consistent with Bogardus' (1925) findings regarding the distance between participants and members of the other group. Results from the quantitative analyses revealed that the short educational DVD had a significant impact on lessening the extent to which people viewed Islam as being associated with terrorism as determined by conducting a one-way ANOVA. However, the brief educational intervention was not enough to change people's overall negative stereotypes about Muslims in everyday situations. In addition, the qualitative responses of this study shed light on what may impact negative stereotypes of Islam and Muslims. The research concluded that although one cannot imply that a short educational DVD will erase social distance attitudes about Islam and Muslims, education does influence positive changes in people's attitudes to some extent.

Education

Educational intervention

Impact of education

Islam

Negative stereotypes

Social sciences

Ahmad Laiq

M. Baran

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y