Carol J. Cumber

A comparative study of perceptions and understanding of multiculturalism

In designing diversity training programs, experts have not always paid attention to the recipients of such training. Do different groups require different methods for presenting and/or implementing multicultural training? Our research studies the issue of multiculturalism from the perspective of the recipients and compares reactions to multiculturalism in two geographic regions of the continental United States. Students at two universities were interviewed, one in the southwest and the other in the northern plains. After qualitative/interpretive analysis was performed, four issues emerged from these data: (a) meanings of cultural diversity, (b) evidence of cultural diversity on campus, (c) institutional responses to cultural diversity, and (d) suggested institutional action. Differences in reactions to multicultural issues were found in the two geographic regions as respondents defined diversity issues solely on the basis of their particular region.