Correcting Misperceptions: An In-class Exercise for Reducing Population Innumeracy Using Student Response Systems and a Test of Its Effectiveness

Autor/in	Herda, Daniel
Titel	Correcting Misperceptions: An In-class Exercise for Reducing Population Innumeracy Using Student Response Systems and a Test of Its Effectiveness
Quelle	In: Teaching Sociology, 45 (2017) 2, S.152-160 (9 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0092-055X
DOI	10.1177/0092055X16681647
Schlagwörter	Teaching Methods; Misconceptions; Audience Response Systems; Technology Uses in Education; Sociology; Population Trends; Racial Differences; Immigrants; Minority Groups; Religious Cultural Groups; Jews; Muslims; Comparative Analysis; Undergraduate Students; Christianity; Group Discussion + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Missverständnis; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Soziologie; Bevölkerungsprognose; Rassenunterschied; Immigrant; Immigrantin; Immigranten; Ethnische Minderheit; Kirchliche Gruppe; Religionszugehörigkeit; Jew; Jude; Jüdin; Juden; Muslim; Muslimin; Christentum; Gruppendiskussion
Abstract	The current analysis examines the degree to which a classroom activity using student response systems (SRS) can improve the accuracy of commonly held demographic misperceptions. Overestimation of religious, racial, and immigrant minority population sizes is pervasive in the United States and Western Europe, and such inaccuracies predict more negative intergroup attitudes. This study introduces an interactive SRS-based activity designed to teach students about demographic realities and then tests its effectiveness for correcting misperceptions. Experimental results indicate greater accuracy in students' estimates of the Jewish and Muslim population sizes five weeks after taking part in the activity. Their perceptions were improved significantly relative to peers who participated in a non-SRS version of the exercise and to those who were absent on the day of the exercise. Overall, the results indicate that the sociology classroom, aided with SRS, can be an effective arena through which to combat demographic misperceptions and improve intergroup understanding. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01