| Abstract: | This paper reports a quasi-experimental study of a six-week integrated summer camp experience for a group of teenagers from all parts of the country and from various economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. A set of controls (withdrawals and friends of participants) were employed for comparative purposes. Contrary to other evidence, interracial tolerance for black and white participants was not increased as a result of contact. Whites actually became significantly less tolerant towards Blacks over the six-week period. Likewise, ethnocentric attitudes for both Blacks and whites were not decreased. By comparison, these same participants received a specific educational program dealing with homosexuals and ex-convicts and did become more tolerant of these groups. An explanatory discussion of these results is offered along with the practical implications of the research. |
