Multicultural education programs produce predominantly but not uniformly positive effects

Evidence

Studies of multicultural education have focused on four populations: Students in primary and secondary schools, graduate students in counseling, preservice teachers, and undergraduate students. The results of these studies show that multicultural education programs have predominantly, but not uniformly, positive outcomes. Of the 33 studies we have reviewed, 11 (33 percent) found positive effects, 14 (42 percent) found a mixture of positive effects and nonsignificant effects, 5 (15 percent) found only nonsignificant effects, one (3 percent) found mixed negative and nonsignificant effects, and 2 (6 percent) found negative effects on measures related to intergroup relations (Stephan & Stephan, 2004). Two of the three studies that had negative or partially negative effects were the only two published studies of preschool children. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2640

Categorization

• QUESTION: Only two-thirds of multicultural education studies show any positive effects, and negative effects cluster in preschool. Worth chasing the preschool finding specifically — what makes didactic intergroup lessons counterproductive at that age?