Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - DP120082
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED330914 AUTHOR: Geller, William W.
TITLE: Students and Educators: Attitudes on Gay and Lesbian
Matters.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1990
NOTE: 19 p.
ABSTRACT: This study surveyed college students' and
faculty's feelings toward and knowledge of gays and
lesbians. A 20-question survey assessing attitudes toward,
opinions of, personal feelings about the knowledge of gays
and lesbians was distributed to 450 entering college
freshmen at the University of Maine, Farmington. Of these,
the first 150 to be completed were used. In addition,
surveys were completed by 36 faculty, 14 clerical staff, 31
professional staff, and 7 others, a response rate of 59
percent. The results revealed a significant difference
between the response patterns of students and educators on
all statements except one. Students appeared to be
uncomfortable with gays and lesbians. For all but one
"feeling" statement, less than 50% of the students
expressed comfort with a particular situation. Only three
of six "knowledge" statements had appropriate responses
from students, suggesting that students lacked knowledge
about gays and lesbians. Educator responses support the
hypothesis that they are knowledgeable about and
comfortable with gays and lesbians. Taken together, the
results suggest a need for student development activity on
the campus that focuses on gay and lesbian issues. There
appears to be a core of students who would probably support
an educational effort that could be led by sensitive and
knowledgeable educators. (The 20 questions from the survey
are included, as is a summary of percent of responses to
the survey.) (NB)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: College-Faculty; College-Freshmen; Higher
Education
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Homosexuality-; *Knowledge-Level;
*Lesbianism-; *Student-Attitudes; *Teacher-Attitudes
This is an ERIC database document. ERIC is the National
Education Information Network for providing ready access
to the literature of education -descriptions of exemplary
programs, research and development efforts, and related
information that can be used in developing more effective
educational programs. The ERIC database is currently
available on CD-ROM in the main library (ground floor of
the west wing) at Michigan State University. To locate
ERIC documents in the library identify the first line of
each record (i.e., the field ERIC TITLE NUMBER). ED
following ERIC TITLE NUMBER indicates an ERIC document,
an unpublished research study. Most of these items are
available in the Microforms library, located on the 3rd
floor of the west wing. All you need is the six digit ED
number. If EJ follows ERIC TITLE NUMBER the item is a
journal article. The complete journal name is listed after
the code JOURNAL.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base DP on 06/25/02.
Data base DP was last revised on 12/95/ .
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
cook@msue.msu.edu . Please read our
disclaimer for important
information about using our site.