Differences between African American and European American College Students in Relative and Mathematical Time Orientations: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This preliminary study was designed to test the hypothesis that African Americans would be more likely to use relative or flexible time than would European Americans. Despite the formulations by many Afrocentric scholars of differences in time orientations, there has been relatively little empirical work on this topic. Data were collected from 55 African American and European American students attending a mid-sized private university on the East Coast. Participants responded to relative or mathematical (clock) time choices in 12 scenarios. The results indicated that African Americans were significantly more likely to use relative time for 5 of the 12 scenarios. Marginally significant differences were found for 3 of the 12 scenarios. European Americans did not differ from African Americans in use of relative time for more informal situations, but differed in more formal and structured situations. The implications of the findings for cross-cultural interactions and for African Americans who function within European environments are discussed.