In the study presented where 5,000 students at the University of Texas were surveyed based on their declared major in order to see if there was a correlation between declared major, GPA, and student attitudes toward racial tolerance the data returned validated the hypothesis that these variables were significant in determining different attitudes towards race.
Given the different theories on ethnic stratification we studied, I believed the functionalist view is the best framework to work with in understanding these differences. This view relies on one of two conditions being present. That inequality functions to meet a social need and that inequality is the result of a useful social condition. In the study there are two differences at play between students—one nature and one nurture. In terms of there being a difference between majors of nursing and accounting, these makes sense since nursing is naturally going to draw students with an interest in helping people and as a result more tolerant of them.
I believe this psychological theory plays into another social theory that provides an understandable framework for looking at the data derived from the study. Under Middleman Minorities theory, some group minority groups occupy intermediate positions within an economy of a dominant group. While this metric was not accounted for in the study, it would be interesting to also correlate socio-economic background for students in majors that were less tolerant, and also those with lower GPAs whose racially attitudes drifted from their better doing counterparts.
Reference:
Texas Student Survey of 5,000 students regarding their racial attitudes.
