Attitudes Toward Homosexuality at Private Colleges

Abstract

Research examining college students' attitudes toward homosexuality has been consistently reported as generally negative (Herek, 1984a; Malaney, Williams, & Geller, 1997; & Mohr & Sedlacek, 2000). Furthermore, the attitudes of heterosexual college males have reflected higher levels of negativity when compared to their female counterparts (D'Augelli & Rose, 1991; Kite, 1984; & Smith & Gordon, 1998). The ensuing literature review examines research studies conducted at large, small, public, and private institutions. The purpose of this study is to investigate attitudes toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people from the point of view of heterosexual males who attend private institutions. The literature in regards to private institutional campus setting is very limited.

Data was collected through the dissemination of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Attitude Assessment at four private colleges. The administration of the instrument was conducted through a designated coordinator and through facilitators who agreed to participate. Descriptive data, including means, standard deviation and histograms, were collected. In addition, the research study used four methods of inferential statistics: (1) within-subjects ANOVA, (2) t-tests with a Bonferroni adjusted alpha, (3) within-subjects ANOVA with one between-subjects variable, and (4) the post-hoc Ryan Procedure. All statistical tests were performed using an alpha level of .05 unless otherwise stated.

The GLBT Attitude Assessment included the GLBT Far Proximity Scale and GLBT Close Proximity Scale. While the GLBT Far Proximity Scale indicated no mean difference from males toward the subgroups, the statistical analysis conducted on the GLBT Close Proximity Scale did indicate a mean difference. In addition, males who held conservative beliefs in their political and religious orientations were significantly different than those who held liberal and moderate beliefs. Respondents' differences presented in this study were within the neutral range, however, they had negative and positive trends. For example, the respondents' attitudes were least positive toward transgender people.