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'Speaking Up When I Disagree': Exploring College Student Activism and Openness to Diversity and Challenge

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Title: 'Speaking Up When I Disagree': Exploring College Student Activism and Openness to Diversity and Challenge
Language: English
Authors: Rebecca M. Taylor (ORCID 0000-0002-4218-4229), Katie H. Burr (ORCID 0000-0001-7478-3712), Nicholas R. Stroup (ORCID 0000-0003-1758-0454), Laila I. McCloud (ORCID 0000-0003-4976-440X)
Source: Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2025 18(1):82-96.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Activism, Student Attitudes, Diversity, College Environment, Student Development, Perspective Taking, Student Organizations, Social Justice, Political Attitudes, Political Affiliation, Systems Approach, Student Experience, Private Colleges
DOI: 10.1037/dhe0000484
ISSN: 1938-8926
1938-8934
Abstract: Openness to diversity and challenge (ODC) has been identified as an important educational aim in higher education research, educational philosophy, and popular discourse. Yet, the relationship between college students' activism orientation, their unique social positions, and their development of ODC in contexts of political polarization remains underexplored. This study explores these relationships using a mixed method (quantitatively driven + qual) approach guided by an ecological framework. Analyzing survey data collected between 2017 and 2019, we found that students' activism orientation scores are significantly positively associated with their ODC. Our qualitative analysis revealed several factors that students perceive as supporting their development of perspective taking--(a) campus diversity, including political diversity; (b) academic course environments; (c) student organizations and campus events; and (d) informal interactions with peers--as well as several barriers to perspective taking--(a) political climate on campus; (b) politicized racism, anti-immigrant, antitrans, and other forms of unjust bias; and (c) resistance to politically conservative viewpoints. Overall, our study suggests several factors may support college students' development of ODC, including microsystem-level exposure to diverse campus environments and informal interactions with peers within those environments, notably engagement in activism and exposure to other students' activism. When encouraging educational aims like ODC, college and university personnel designing microsystem-level interventions should be aware of and responsive to the unique ways that students may experience these efforts depending on their social positions--and in particular their experiences of marginalization--within and beyond the campus environment.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504018
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 'Speaking Up When I Disagree': Exploring College Student Activism and Openness to Diversity and Challenge
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebecca+M%2E+Taylor%22">Rebecca M. Taylor</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4218-4229">0000-0002-4218-4229</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katie+H%2E+Burr%22">Katie H. Burr</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7478-3712">0000-0001-7478-3712</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nicholas+R%2E+Stroup%22">Nicholas R. Stroup</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1758-0454">0000-0003-1758-0454</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laila+I%2E+McCloud%22">Laila I. McCloud</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4976-440X">0000-0003-4976-440X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Diversity+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Diversity in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 18(1):82-96.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Activism%22">Activism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Environment%22">College Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Development%22">Student Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Perspective+Taking%22">Perspective Taking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Organizations%22">Student Organizations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Justice%22">Social Justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Attitudes%22">Political Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Affiliation%22">Political Affiliation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systems+Approach%22">Systems Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Colleges%22">Private Colleges</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dhe0000484
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  Data: 1938-8926<br />1938-8934
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Openness to diversity and challenge (ODC) has been identified as an important educational aim in higher education research, educational philosophy, and popular discourse. Yet, the relationship between college students' activism orientation, their unique social positions, and their development of ODC in contexts of political polarization remains underexplored. This study explores these relationships using a mixed method (quantitatively driven + qual) approach guided by an ecological framework. Analyzing survey data collected between 2017 and 2019, we found that students' activism orientation scores are significantly positively associated with their ODC. Our qualitative analysis revealed several factors that students perceive as supporting their development of perspective taking--(a) campus diversity, including political diversity; (b) academic course environments; (c) student organizations and campus events; and (d) informal interactions with peers--as well as several barriers to perspective taking--(a) political climate on campus; (b) politicized racism, anti-immigrant, antitrans, and other forms of unjust bias; and (c) resistance to politically conservative viewpoints. Overall, our study suggests several factors may support college students' development of ODC, including microsystem-level exposure to diverse campus environments and informal interactions with peers within those environments, notably engagement in activism and exposure to other students' activism. When encouraging educational aims like ODC, college and university personnel designing microsystem-level interventions should be aware of and responsive to the unique ways that students may experience these efforts depending on their social positions--and in particular their experiences of marginalization--within and beyond the campus environment.
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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