Cultural Diversity in the MSW Learning Space: Exploring Student Awareness, Acceptance, and Perceptions

Abstract

This exploratory study assesses MSW students’ awareness, acceptance, and perceptions with regard to cultural diversity in the MSW learning space. Within this study, cultural diversity encompasses racial and ethnic identities. Through a stepwise multiple regression analysis, seven predictor variables were inputted to assess their predictive qualities on the criterion of perceptions of cultural diversity in the MSW learning space. An anonymous, online survey was the method for data collection. Participants from the study consisted of MSW students from a large, public Midwestern university (N = 146). Three of the seven factors appeared to be significant predictors of perception: acceptance of cultural diversity, completion of the MSW social justice education course, and students' BSW status. The findings from this study can be attributed to social work education and practice with regard to cultural diversity, especially with regard to students’ development of a more critical eye to racial/ethnic diversity’s presence in the learning space.