Identifying predictors associated with pluralistic orientation in college students

From a theoretical standpoint, pluralistic orientation incorporates higher levels of critical thinking that empower students to engage collaboratively, interact cross-culturally, and develop a higher regard for others’ perspectives, beliefs, and identities. Though many of these attributes may develop naturally over time through life experiences, institutions of higher education have the opportunity to play a vital role in the acquisition of these attributes by providing a space where diverse forms of knowledge converge, differing perspectives are fostered, and students can interact cross-culturally, maybe for the first time. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify predictors associated with a pluralistic orientation in college students. Quantitative and qualitative archival data from a 2016 campus climate assessment adapted from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) Diverse Learning Environment (DLE) survey were utilized. A conceptual model for examining students’ pluralistic orientation adapted from Dovidio et al. (2004) provided the theoretical framework for this study.