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Black Students at Predominantly White Colleges: A Research Description

Author(s):
Centra, John A.
Publication Year:
1970
Report Number:
RB-70-19
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
25
Subject/Key Words:
College Board, Black Students, College Students, Higher Education, Minority Groups, Student Attitudes, Student Characteristics

Abstract

The purpose of this report was to determine how background characteristics, activities, goals, and perceptions of Black students at predominantly White colleges differed from their White counterparts. Findings were used from several sources, especially the "Questionnaire on Student and College Characteristics" (QSCC), as a basis for identifying the similarities and differences of a sample group of 249 black students at 83 traditionally White institutions and a matched group of White students, and they are related to other research evidence. Findings indicated that there were more similarities than would have been predictable. Black and White students were involved equally in over half of 25 extracurricular activities; they rated 8 possible goals in attending college similarly, with slightly fewer than half of both groups ranking the intellectual-academic goal first; and both groups perceived the general features of the college environment in the same way, through the "racial" environment was viewed quite differently.

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