Date of Award
1982
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if selected sociopyschological variables were influenced by foreign language instruction. Attitude surveys were administered to 260 students from a high school, a junior college, and a university in Florida before and after instruction in introductory Spanish classes. A combination of instruments developed by Gardner and Lambert at McGill University was adapted for the study. A Likert-type scale was used to elicit responses regarding anomie, ethnocentrism, and attitude toward Hispanics; a semantic differential scale, to elicit stereotypes of Americans, Spaniards, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans. Data obtained were analyzed by one-way analyses of variance, correlation and t-tests for significance, and the orthogonal comparison method. Results included the following: The university students did not change attitudes significantly on any variable tested. The junior college students' attitudes improved significantly toward Mexicans. The high school students' attitudes toward Hispanics in general and toward Mexicans in particular declined significantly. For the total sample, there was a significant trend toward anomie following instruction, but there was no change in ethnocentrism. A significant positive relationship existed between these two variables prior to instruction; no significant relationship existed afterward. Stereotypes elicited rated Americans most favorably followed by Spaniards. There were no significant differentiations made between the other three groups. It was concluded that instruction in Spanish neither improved overall attitude toward Hispanics nor decreased ethnocentrism. Nevertheless, it was found that the high school students' attitudes were flexible and susceptible to change. Recommendations included the reassessment of affective goals in foreign language instruction and the development of cultural awareness units to be incorporated into the curriculum.
Extent
188 p.
Recommended Citation
AKE, CATHERINE ANN, "SELECTED SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN HIGH SCHOOL AND POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS" (1982). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1980 - 1989. 196.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_3/196
Identifier
FADT11796
Comments
Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1982.|College of Education|Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1982.