The Relationship Between Peer-Reported Aggression and Social Preference as a Function of Ethnicity in the Classroom

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between aggression and social preference nominations as a function of ethnicity in the classroom. It is predicted that the correlation between aggression and social preference among Caucasians will be replicated as a negative relationship, while this correlation for African-American children will be less negative or slightly positive. I will also be looking at Hispanics. It is predicted that they will have the same results as the African-Americans. It would help to explain the difference between actions in the races if one race was more tolerant of aggression, or even saw it as a means of being socially acceptable. In order to answer this question, an experiment has been conducted, using peer nominations and ratings, measuring the variables of race, gender, popular nominations, and aggressive nominations in classrooms that contain different racial majorities.