Are You Using Me for My Diversity? Consequences of Collective Merit and Restorative Justice Diversity Frames in Higher Education

Abstract

The present study assessed the degree to which a collective benefit diversity frame influences the perception of the role of diversity within institutions of higher education, in the presence of affirmative action policies. White participants completed a single category implicit association test, after reading two mission statements, each corresponding either a collective benefit frame or a restorative justice frame of diversity. White and racial/ethnic minority participants rated the degree to which they perceived a collective merit or restorative justice frame to be endorsed by their university, and then completed a series of measures to understand the role of diversity. Our findings revealed that both racial/ethnic minority and majority participants reported negative health outcomes in a collective benefit frame.