Managing diversity in the workplace

Diversity Add

The purpose of this research study is to explore changes within the higher education context that indicate a need to expand the definition of diversity to include ethics, ideology, religion and other attributes other than race. It will be examined through three central hypotheses and numerous research questions that will help to enhance an understanding of the central hypotheses. It will examine the prevalence of managerial discrimination for managerial positions among minorities. It will also explore the role of diversity training within Northwood University; Michigan, Texas and Florida campuses.

Population and Sampling

Northwood University boasts a diversity policy which embraces all nationalities, races, religions, creeds, ethnicities and gender orientations. However, the research here is geared toward examining how closely the experience of personnel reflects the policies which are in place officially throughout the university. Northwood presents itself as a suitable context for research on the subject, primarily because it offers three campuses for investigation which are in markedly different geographical contexts. Thus, the proposed study would seek to gain the participation of 50 staff members each to represent the Florida, Michigan and Texas campuses of Northwood University.

For this research endeavor, it seems that the Likert Scale would be most appropriate within the context of the proposed multi-case study. Given that there are roughly an anticipated 150 participants in the survey process, likely, amongst the subjects at the distinctly selected locations, a variance of internal cultural realities, responsibilities and pay scales; it would be most efficient to garner information in each individual context first before seeking to draw comparative analysis of the selected schools. Therefore, an intensive study of the demographic, socioeconomic and geographical conditions at each campus would precede this part of the data-collection process.

The basic demographic information that would be gathered on subjects would include several features. Though respondents would be marked as anonymous, each respondent would be distinguished by the notation of several demographic basics beyond identification of the respondent's campus. In addition, notation would be made of the racial or ethnic traits of the subject according to the respondent's own report. Age of the respondent would also be considered here. Additionally, respondents would be asked to note the years of professional experience garnered at the campus in question and would be marked according to the discipline in which each provides instruction. No specific requirements will be used to select these demographics beyond their connection to the respective campuses, but notation of the above-noted demographic traits will help to refine the value of qualitative findings and make these findings subject to greater analytical flexibility.

The sampling frame would be constituted of first responding personnel in place at each school. Perhaps the most distinct advantage to conducting research with the Likert Scale survey acting as the prime tool for data gathering is its capacity to yield first-hand accounts which may be protected by anonymity and which enable researchers to formulate data analyses that are not influenced by their personal perceptions of subjects.