Faculty and student perspectives on multicultural infusion and diversity in doctorate level audiology programs: a two-part analysis

Abstract

Fifty-nine faculty members and 300 students in doctorate level audiology programs completed on-line surveys that addressed issues related to (1) diversity and (2) multicultural infusion. The two surveys, one designed for faculty participants and the other designed for student participants, consisted of questions that asked respondents to provide demographic information, to rate their opinion of statements regarding diversity and multicultural infusion issues using a 9-point scale (ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree), and to provide comments on a number of survey items. Responses and comments were examined and the results indicated that faculty and students shared similar opinions regarding these two issues. Results indicated that the majority of the respondents were supportive of diversity and multicultural infusion in audiology graduate programs; however, respondents were not in favor of increasing diversity by adjusting admissions criteria and were not in favor of addressing multicultural issues in every course. There were few significant differences in response patterns between non-minority and minority respondents.