Lauren Abernathy, Alicia Coverdale, Kara Hackney, Vernon King Jr., and James Younger

1. Where You Live Matters: A Test of the Influence and Impacts of the Diversity in a Living Environment on the Awareness of Cultural Diversity Lauren Abernathy, Alicia Coverdale, Kara Hackney, Vernon King Jr., and James Younger

2. Abstract This study tests how diverse living environment affects cultural diversity awareness. This issue is significant because it is important in everyday life, in the education environment, and in the workplace to understand cultural diversity and to understand why some individuals have higher awareness than others. To collect their data, the researchers conducted a survey questionnaire across four university campuses: Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, and University of Kansas. Analysis of simple linear regression results revealed that when the living environment diversity increased one unit, then the cultural diversity awareness increased by .405 units, with all other factors remaining consistent. The researchers believe this finding is important because it can be beneficial to the community policy makers.

3. Introduction • Research Topic • Relationship between diversity of living environment and cultural diversity awareness • Importance of Topic • Cultural diversity can relate to how much an individual trusts society and gets along with other people in their environment

4. Literature Review • Most articles study effects and benefits of diversity in regards to exposure and understanding • The relationship between exposure and awareness is not often studied

5. Literature Review • Thomas and Inkson • Cultural Intelligence: being skilled and flexible about understanding a culture, learning increasingly more about it, and gradually shaping one's thinking to be more sympathetic to the culture and one's behavior to be more fine-tuned and appropriate when interacting with others from the culture • Term is used in referring to the global work place, but not in referring to individuals’ lives

6. Literature Review • The Association of American Colleges and Universities • “Campus diversity initiatives have positive effects on both minority and majority students. They improve students' relationships on campus and affect positively their satisfaction and involvement with their institutions and their academic growth.” • Many minority students still find campus unresponsive to their needs

7. Literature Review • Deborah Humphrey • “Many students seem to anticipate and desire greater levels of intergroup contact then they actually experience on campus.” • This proves that students have the desire to have greater cultural diversity awareness

8. Literature Review For this study, the researchers wanted to focus on the individual and the relationship between the diversity of his/her living environment and his/her cultural diversity awareness

9. Literature ReviewHypothesis People who have lived in a diversified community for at least more than one year have higher cultural diversity awareness than those who have lived in a community with the same cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds as them

10. Method • How subjects were chosen • Systematic Sampling • Who were the subjects? • The researchers gathered data from students from four Kansas universities • Demographics • 42.2% male and 55.7% female • 10.9% freshman, 13.6% sophomore, 17.1% junior, 27.1% senior, 16.7% master student, and 14.3% doctoral student

11. Method • Variables measured: • IV: Diversity of Living Environment • 8 questions used to measure • DV: Cultural Diversity Awareness • 15 questions used to measure • Likert Scale of measurement

12. MethodDLE Questions • Question 16 • In the most diversified community that you have ever lived for at least more than one year, how many people are(were) from different • Cultural backgrounds • Ethnic backgrounds • Racial backgrounds • Countries • than yours? • Question 17 • In the most diversified community that you have ever lived in for at least more than one year, how many different • Cultural backgrounds • Ethnic backgrounds • Racial backgrounds • Countries • are people from?

13. MethodDLE • Cronbach’sAlpha of the DLE: • .925 • Likert Scale • Question 16 • None • Only a few • Some • A lot • Most • Likert Scale • Question 17 • Just one • Two or three • Four to six • Seven to ten • More than ten

14. MethodCDA Questions I would like to join an organization that emphasizes getting to know people from different countries Persons with disabilities can teach me things I could not learn elsewhere Getting to know someone of another race is generally an uncomfortable experience for me I would like to go to dances that feature music from other countries I can best understand someone after I get to know how he/she is both similar to and different from me I am only at ease with people of my race I often listen to music of other cultures

15. MethodCDA Questions Knowing how a person differs from me greatly enhances our friendship It’s really hard for me to feel close to a person from another race I am interested in learning about the many cultures that have existed in this world In getting to know someone, I like knowing both how he/she differs from me and is similar to me It is very important that a friend agrees with me on most issues I attend events where I might get to know people from different racial backgrounds Knowing about the different experiences of other people helps me understand my own problems better I often feel irritated by persons of a different race

16. MethodCDA • Cronbach’sAlpha of the CDA: • .851 • Likert Scale • Strongly Disagree • Disagree • Disagree a Little Bit • Agree a Little Bit • Agree • Strongly Agree

17. ResultsDLE • Independent Variable: Diversity of the Living Environment • Mean: 25.6132 • Standard Deviation: 7.41379

18. ResultsCDA • Dependent Variable: Cultural Diversity Awareness • Mean: 67.9424 • Standard Deviation: 10.17210

19. Results • Simple Linear Regression Test • Coefficient • .405 • P-Value (Significance) • .0001 • The P-value was less than .05, therefore the researchers conclude that the findings can be generalized to the population and the hypothesis is correct

20. Discussion • People who have lived in a diversified community for at least more than one year have higher CDA than those who have lived in a community with the same cultural and ethnic backgrounds as them • Social Implications • It is good for people to experience a DLE and therefore have higher CDA

21. DiscussionLimitations The study could have received a higher response rate Survey was sent via e-mail, which generally has a low response rate Only perceived DLE was measured Actual DLE was not measured

22. DiscussionFuture Research • Could accompany questionnaire with an experiment • Subjects could walk through a controlled setting of virtual DLEs • Could use a different method of survey distribution

23. References Kienzle, N., & Husar, S. (2007). How Can Cultural Awareness Improve Communication in the Global Workplace?. Journal Of The Communication, Speech & Theatre Association Of North Dakota, 2081-85. Thomas, D. C, & Inkson, K. (2005, March). Cultural intelligence: People skills for a global workplace. Consulting to Management, 16, 5-9. International Journal of the Sociology of Language; 2012, Vol. 2012 Issue 216, p7-32, 26p, Multilingual policies and practices of universities in three bilingual regions in Europe by JOSEP M. COTS, DAVID LASAGABASTER and PETER GARRETT Li-Rong Lilly, C. (2007). Cultural Intelligence (CQ). Communication Disorders Quarterly, 29(1), 36-42. FHSU, (September 27, 2012), FHSU fall enrollment of 13,310 sets yet another all-time record, Fort Hays State University website, http://www.fhsu.edu/news/Fall-enrollment-record/ Friedman, T. (2005). The world is flat. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.