Date of Last Revision

2023-05-02 12:14:41

Major

Psychology

Date of Expected Graduation

Fall 2014

Abstract

The goal of this investigation was to gain greater insight into the racial attitudes and media usage behaviors of African American college students. Racial identity, internalized racial oppression, self-esteem, and media consumption were measured in a sample of African American college students (n = 59). Racial identity was measured with The Multidimensional Model of Black Identity, internalized racial oppression was measured using The Internalized Racial Oppression Scale, self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and media consumption was measured via a researcher-designed survey. The results revealed significant correlations between constructs. Self-esteem was correlated to the racial identity subscales of private regard, humanist ideology, and nationalist ideology. Racial identity was also significantly correlated with internalized racial oppression. The internalization of negative stereotypes (INS) subscale was correlated with private regard, humanist ideology, and nationalist ideology. The belief in the biased representation of history (BRH) subscale was correlated with private regard and public regard. Self-esteem was correlated to the belief the BRH subscale and the INS subscale. The Media Consumption scale was correlated with nationalist ideology and centrality. Media consumption was not correlated with self-esteem or internalized racial oppression. This analysis revealed possible trends occurring amongst the African American college student population.

Research Sponsor

Amber Hewitt

First Reader

Philip Allen

Second Reader

Kathryn Feltey

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