2022 Theses Doctoral

The Effect of Student Race and Class Intersections on the Assignment of School-Based Resources

Scott-McLaughlin, Randolph

Professional decision-making concerning the nature and quantity of schoolchildren's educational, counseling, and remedial experiences is critical to children's success. How are aspects of students' race and socioeconomic status associated with teachers' and counselors' recommendations regarding the supportive and remedial services provided to them?

This study examined how racial/ethnic identity and social class may influence the early treatment decisions that teachers and counselors make about programs and services that could benefit their students. The study analyzed archival data collected from teachers and counselors via a classroom vignette study in which participants suggested appropriate programming and services for a hypothetical child. The scenario and the presenting issues were the same across all vignettes, while the hypothetical child's race/ethnicity and socioeconomic background varied.

Overall, the results suggested that many teachers and counselors can make unbiased decisions about service recommendations for students. However, responses to the Asian American vignette frequently seemed to be affected by the model minority stereotype; in addition, trends that suggested biased views towards Latinx and low SES students were found, along with the possible existence of a positive feedback bias toward Black students. Suggested future research directions included the creation of a scale for the measurement of attitudinal dispositional ratings with an extension to clinical settings.