Date Approved

5-3-2005

Embargo Period

4-11-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Klanderman, John

Committee Member 1

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Discrimination in education; Race discrimination--Psychological aspects

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not there is a double standard of punishment between Black and White Americans and to evaluate the social perceptions of Black Americans in our society. Seventy-two teachers were given surveys concerning an eleven-year-old boy with aggression. On half of the surveys, the boy's name was Tommy and on the other half of the surveys, the boy's name was Tyrone to allude to differences in race. The teachers were asked to determine the punishment for the boy's latest outburst and to answer questions concerning how they perceived the story. This allowed the researcher to evaluate a possible double standard of punishment in the severity of consequences given to the Black child in comparison to the White child. Also, by including separate questions, the researcher was able to look at the difference in social perceptions of these two groups. Results showed that there was no difference in the severity of punishment, nor were there any significant correlations in social perception with the exception of one. There was a significant relationship found between the Tyrone surveys and the perception that the father was 'in and out' due to serving jail time.

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