Tough enough.
May 4, 2012 3:18 PM Subscribe
Educators Showing A “Positive Bias“ To Minority Students. 'Are some teachers hurting students with too much praise, and in the process, keeping them from doing their best?' 'A major study, led by Rutgers-Newark psychology professor Kent D. Harber, indicates that public school teachers under-challenge minority students by providing them more positive feedback than they give to white students, for work of equal merit.'
'The study, which is currently available online at http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2012-10763-001/ in the Journal of Educational Psychology (JEP)'.
'Harber believes that the positive feedback bias might help explain the stubborn academic performance gap between minority students and white students, an enduring social problem that threatens to “reverse social successes won through legislation, jurisprudence, and changing cultural attitudes” toward minorities. Previous attempts to address the performance gap have, correctly, examined inequalities in school funding, racism, and distrust of academia in some minority communities, notes the report.
The current study suggests that the performance gap might also be due to a cause that has received relatively little attention: the nature of instructional feedback from white teachers to minority students.
Harber believes the study’s findings have implications not only for educational systems in the U.S. but also for businesses and in fact any organization where performance appraisals and feedback are crucial tools for training and development.'
'The study, which is currently available online at http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2012-10763-001/ in the Journal of Educational Psychology (JEP)'.
'Harber believes that the positive feedback bias might help explain the stubborn academic performance gap between minority students and white students, an enduring social problem that threatens to “reverse social successes won through legislation, jurisprudence, and changing cultural attitudes” toward minorities. Previous attempts to address the performance gap have, correctly, examined inequalities in school funding, racism, and distrust of academia in some minority communities, notes the report.
The current study suggests that the performance gap might also be due to a cause that has received relatively little attention: the nature of instructional feedback from white teachers to minority students.
Harber believes the study’s findings have implications not only for educational systems in the U.S. but also for businesses and in fact any organization where performance appraisals and feedback are crucial tools for training and development.'
This post was deleted for the following reason: Posts about research where the actual research isn't publicly available are kind of nerfed from the get-go; if there's some more substantial discussion available that might work for a post but shortish digestions of studies tend not be great post material. -- cortex
Is this pay-to-read only?
As far as I can tell. I haven't even managed to get access via the university library yet. Because the linked press release leaves something to be desired. (Why is it using 'believed' in place of 'were told'?)
posted by hoyland at 3:41 PM on May 4, 2012
As far as I can tell. I haven't even managed to get access via the university library yet. Because the linked press release leaves something to be desired. (Why is it using 'believed' in place of 'were told'?)
posted by hoyland at 3:41 PM on May 4, 2012
When I was a history grad student I watched my professor I was assigned to (a white male) systematically raise the grades of several African American students who failed to a passing grade. I didn't know how I felt about it. Not sure how I feel about it now, either.
posted by Ironmouth at 3:52 PM on May 4, 2012
posted by Ironmouth at 3:52 PM on May 4, 2012
I think this study gives credence to the notion of "the soft bigotry of low expectations."
posted by chimaera at 3:54 PM on May 4, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by chimaera at 3:54 PM on May 4, 2012 [3 favorites]
I've now gotten access to the full text.
But I'm confused by something I hope someone in psychology can come along and explain. This study is predicated on the assumption that the teachers believed their comments would be returned to the student. Suppose that were actually the case. Could you get a study giving anonymous teachers comments to some kids with poor writing skills past IRB? How do you insulate against the teachers realising the scenario they've been presented with is bizarre?
posted by hoyland at 3:55 PM on May 4, 2012
But I'm confused by something I hope someone in psychology can come along and explain. This study is predicated on the assumption that the teachers believed their comments would be returned to the student. Suppose that were actually the case. Could you get a study giving anonymous teachers comments to some kids with poor writing skills past IRB? How do you insulate against the teachers realising the scenario they've been presented with is bizarre?
posted by hoyland at 3:55 PM on May 4, 2012
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That was a good essay. Yep, that'd hurt.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:37 PM on May 4, 2012