Assessing Cross-cultural Learning and the Effects of Personality and Negative Attitudes on Journalism Students' Knowledge

Abstract

This study uses a pre-test/post-test design to assess student learning of cross-cultural journalism principles and to determine if students with intolerant personality types (RWA and SDO) learn differently. Findings show that knowledge increased from Time 1 to Time 2. Personality type was associated with beliefs about diversity's importance to industry, but not to knowledge. As journalists set the tone for conversations about class, race, and gender, it is of consequence to understand how students enter these conversations.