Experiential Learning and Its Impact on Students’ Attitudes Toward Youth With Disabilities

Abstract

This research uses contact theory to examine the impact of a service learning class on college students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Students were involved in both lecture material and working directly with people with disabilities in a therapeutic camp environment. Eighty-four students responded to the questionnaires at three time periods over the course of the semester. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and mixed-model ANOVA were performed to study the changes in students’ attitudes. The results indicate that there was a change in attitudes after 12 weeks of course instruction and between the beginning of class and after the camp experience. Also, gender and academic major were found to have had little impact on students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Implications and limitations of this research are discussed and thoughts for future research are addressed.