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Young Children's Perceptions Of SHADES OF KNOWLEDGE: YOUNG CHILDREN’S PERCEPTIONS OF RACIAL ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO College of Education ASHLAND UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Tanzeah S. R. Sharpe, B.A. M.Ed. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY ASHLAND, OHIO 2014 ©Copyright by Tanzeah S. Robinson Sharpe All rights reserved 2014 ii A Dissertation Entitled SHADES OF KNOWLEDGE: YOUNG CHILDREN’S PERCEPTIONS OF RACIAL ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES By Tanzeah S. Robinson Sharpe In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies _________________________________________________________ Dr. Judy Alston, Ph.D., Committee Chair Date _________________________________________________________ Dr. Rosaire Ifedi, Ed.D., Committee Member Date _________________________________________________________ Dr. Sunny Munn, Ph.D., Committee Member Date _________________________________________________________ Dr. Judy Alston, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Leadership Studies Date _________________________________________________________ Dr. Linda Billman, Ph.D., Dean, College of Education Date _________________________________________________________ Dr. W. Gregory Gerrick, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School Date Ashland University December 2014 iii SHADES OF KNOWLEDGE: YOUNG CHILDREN’S PERCEPTIONS OF RACIAL ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES By Tanzeah S. Robinson Sharpe ASHLAND UNIVERSITY, 2014 Dr. Judy Alston, Ph.D. This study explores the racial attitudes and preferences among 164 children between three and seven years of age. The study is a partial replication of the Clark and Clark (1958) Doll Test which concluded that segregation, along with prejudice and discrimination, caused feelings of inferiority and self-hatred in African-American children. Significant changes to the original doll test are introduced in the current study. This study is based on an embedded mixed method design which utilizes Chi-square, cross-tabulations, and free-choice interviewing. The data were analyzed in response to research questions designed to test the racial attitudes and racial preferences of the participants. The findings of this study concluded that the participants can identify and have an awareness of racial differences, show doll preference, and display positive self-image. Qualitative themes that emerged from the research concluded that the participants liked the doll that looked most like them (or a family member), had a skin tone they liked, or was pretty. Themes associated with why participants did not like the doll that looked like them included skin tone and miscellaneous responses such as facial features and because the doll did not resemble the child’s doll at home. The findings of this study are compared to the results from the Clark and Clark (1958) Doll Test. iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my children; Imari, Armani, Alexa, LaMar, Desmond, and Nasir, for their support, patience, and most of all their many sacrifices throughout my educational pursuits. To my starting line-up, words cannot express how proud I am of the young women and men you are becoming. Watching the five of you undertake this journey with me has taught me the true meaning of selfless, unconditional love. There were times when you allowed me to put my writing before games and cheer competitions, brought me tall glasses of ice water during late night typing sessions, and purchased paper and pens with your own money in anticipation of this day. Every text message and phone call, every love note, and every gesture (no matter how big or small) pushed me closer to my goal. Thank you for cheering me to the end. Although you are too young to understand this achievement Nasir, mommy wants you to know that you have also played an essential part in my drive towards completion. Your smiles and kisses kept me encouraged while your brief cat naps taught me to utilize my time wisely. My prayer for you and your sisters and brothers is that you will possess the same ambition and enthusiasm in your pursuit towards happiness. You all are my inspiration and the reason behind my determination. With this accomplishment I hope you learn that there is nothing in life you cannot achieve. My love for you reaches to the moon and back! I also dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Isaiah Robinson and Saundra Robinson Turpin, who have supported me in everything I do. You have sacrificed many of your own goals so that I could achieve mine and for that I am eternally grateful. Dad, your constant hard work, dedication and commitment to spiritual growth set a solid foundation for me as a little girl upon which I stand today. Mom, you are my best friend, my confidant, and my number one fan. You v saw something in me that I didn’t know existed. Thank you for believing that the dress was in the bag! I am blessed beyond measure to have you as parents and can only hope that one day I will be as great of a parent to my own children as you are and have been to me. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the children who participated in the study for sharing their knowledge and for their contributions to my research. I would also like to thank the families for allowing me to interview their children and the school administration and staff for providing access into buildings and interview space. In addition, I would like to show appreciation to American Girls Brand, LLC for granting permission to use images of the Bitty Babies dolls. My deepest appreciation goes to my family, friends, and colleagues for it was your encouragement, inspiration, and trust that kept me pressing on. Special thanks to my committee who without their guidance and support, this study would not have been possible. Whether it was simple words of encouragement, a critique, or a deadline request, your actions steered me through this process. Your constructive criticism, knowledge, and expertise played a vital part in my growth as a researcher and writer. Dr. Alston, your direction and guidance came at a point when I was being stretched academically, mentally, and emotionally. Your bold confidence and outstanding leadership gave me the reassurance I needed to make it to the finish line. For that, I am forever grateful. It is an honor to be mentored by strong leaders in the field of education. I have been passed the torch and I will hold it high with integrity. vii Table of Contents CHAPTER I. Introduction………………………………………………………………….........1 Purpose of the Study………………………………………………………………1 Research Paradigm………………………………………………………………..4 Ontology…………………………………………………………………..5 Epistemology………………………………………………………….......5 Methodology…………………………………………………………........5 Definition of Terms………………………………………………………………..6 Overview…………………………………………………………………………..8 II. Literature Review………………………………………………………………...10 Introduction………………………………………………………………………10 Racism in America: An Historical Record of the Civil Rights Movement……...10 Racial Identification & Preference in Young Children; The Doll Test Revisited.16 Identification Theories and Stages of Racial Development in Children…………25 Implications for New Research…………………………………………………..29 III. Methodology……………………………………………………………………..31 The Clark and Clark Study………………………………………………………32 viii Preliminary Study………………………………………………………………..33 Results of racial identification…………………………………………...35 Results of racial preferences……………………………………………..36 Results of racial identification and preference by participant skin color.37 Current Research Study………………………………………………………….39 Research paradigm……………………………………………………….41 Methods…………………………………………………………………..42 Recruitment of subjects…………………………………………………..43 Data collection and analysis procedure…………………………………..46 Limitations of the study………………………………………………….49 IV. Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………….55 Overview of Results……………………………………………………………...55 Demographic Data from Participants…………………………………………….57 Research Settings………………………………………………………………...59 Rural school 1…………………………………………………………....59 Rural school 2………………………………………………………........60 Urban school 1…………………………………………………………...60 Urban school 2…………………………………………………………...61 Presentation of Results…………………………………………………………...63 Data Analysis Tools……………………………………………………...63 Research question one…………………………………………………....64 Research question two…………………………………………………...65 ix Research question three………………………………………………….67 Research question four…………………………………………………...69 Research question five…………………………………………………...71 Research question six…………………………………………………….73 Research question seven…………………………………………………76 Research question eight………………………………………………….78 Qualitative themes……………………………………………………….79 Summary…………………………………………………………………………82 V. Discussion………………………………………………………………………..84 Introduction………………………………………………………………………84 Review of Methodology…………………………………………………………85 Overview of the Findings………………………………………………………...86 Implications of the Study for Professional Practice or Applied Settings……….95 Recommendations for Further Research………………………………………...97 Conclusion…….………………………………………………………………..100 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………103 APPENDICES Appendix A. Interview Questions from Clark and Clark Study………………………..108 Appendix B. School Consent Form and Letter…………………………………………110 Appendix C. Parent Informed Consent Materials………………………………………113 Appendix D. Data Collection Forms…………………………………………………...116 Appendix E. Interview Materials……………………………………………………….118 x Appendix F. Interview Questions………………………………………………………120 Appendix G. Child-to-Doll
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