Measuring Racial Bias and General Education Assessment

In this article we discuss a model for assessing general education student learning outcomes related to reducing racial bias in postsecondary students. As many postsecondary institutions do, our institution attempts to address racial bias through our general education curriculum, but it is difficult to assess improvement in this area. We used the Color-Blind Racial Attitude Scale (CoBRAS) assessment tool to analyze changes in racial bias as a general education student outcome. Results of a linear regression model with a number of covariates indicated that passing a Global Awareness course (β = −0.193, p = .007) and passing a U.S. Communities course (β = −0.154, p = .021) were statistically significantly related to improved CoBRAS scores. Results of a matched pair design model revealed further evidence of an association between taking Global Awareness and U.S. Communities courses and CoBRAS scores.