TEACHING UNDERGRADUATES ABOUT POVERTY

EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS AND NOBODY’S BUSINESS

KEVIN D. BLAIR, PH.D., ACSWASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY

blairkd@niagara.edu

http://sites.niagara.edu/dr-kevin-d-blair/

Introduction: Poverty and Undergraduates

Introduction Without a specific and integrated approach to teaching

students about poverty “because of its complexity, it can be addressed throughout the curriculum ( e.g., policy, practice, theory, research, diversity, and/or specialization courses) or nowhere in the curriculum, that is, ‘everybody’s business becomes nobody’s business (Austin, 2007, p. 1).”

Very few undergraduates have more than a basic understanding of this global crisis, and very few college courses deal adequately with that knowledge gap. The issue can seem very abstract to college students, particularly those in the developed world who are surrounded by all you-can-eat dining options and an endless array of fast-food delivery services. To help bridge the gap between the reality of poverty, inequality, and hunger, and that of the average college student, innovative pedagogical techniques must be used (Krian and Shadle, 2006, p. 52).

Explanations of Poverty

Poverty as a result of capitalism; Poverty as a consequence of individual

behaviors; Poverty as a consequence of structural

conditions; Poverty due to a lack of social empathy.

Psychology and Social Work textbooks tend to focus on individual explanations;

Recent approaches also emphasize resiliency and human capabilities, but the focus remains on the individual more than the structural.

Undergraduate Poverty Programs/Minors

Washington and Lee Shepherd Program Begun in 1997 “focusing on fostering human development to alleviate poverty”

Amarata Sinn Baylor University Interdisciplinary Poverty Initiative

Directly modeled on Washington and Lee Program Rice University Program in Poverty, Social Justice and Human

Capabilities Recent program, focus remains on human capabilities

Significant focus on women’s issues and economics of poverty for women with a global perspective

Acknowledges that what one can do is dependent on one’s resources and opportunities

Global Poverty and Practice Minor at The Blum Center for Developing Economies UC Berkley More global focus than other three Global Citizen

Humbling experiences

Niagara University Poverty Study

Develop an accurate and reliable assessment tool Survey

Atherton et al (1993) Silas, J.C., Del Rincón, A., Prieto, S., Pliego, S. &

Cortés, A.C. (2007) Establish baseline of undergraduates’ attitudes,

factual knowledge, and level of social empathy for the poor

Validity and Reliability Pedagogical Approach:

increase student knowledge and social empathy Poverty course, volunteer service, poverty

simulation Empirical evaluation of impact of these

approaches Desire to track changes long term

Research Design

Experimental Group Pre test completion of survey instrument,

then participate in Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS)

Post test completion of survey instrument Control Group

Pre and post test completion of survey instrument

Survey Validation used combined experimental and control group pre-test for a sample size 177

Sample

Gender Frequency Percent Religion Frequency PercentMale 75 42.4 Catholic 96 54.2Female 98 55.4 Protestant 28 15.8Subtotal 173 97.7 Jewish 3 1.7Missing 4 2.3 Muslim 1 0.6Total 177 100 Other 35 19.8

Subtotal 163 92.1Age Missing 14 7.9

18-25 170 96 Total 177 10026-35 2 1.136-50 1 0.6Subtotal 173 97.7 EthnicityMissing 4 2.3 White 156 88.1Total 177 100 African-American 2 1.1

Hispanic-American 4 2.3School Year Native-American 1 0.6

Freshman 9 5.1 Other 4 2.3Sophomore 37 20.9 Subtotal 167 94.4Junior 82 46.3 Missing 10 5.6Senior 43 24.3 Total 177 100Subtotal 171 96.6Missing 6 3.4Total 177 100

High School Public Suburban 77 43.5Public Urban 17 9.6Public Rural 39 22Private Catholic 36 20.3Private Other 5 2.8Subtotal 174 98.3Missing 3 1.6Total 177 100

HousingOwn Home 161 91

Private Apartment 9 5.1Public Housing 2 1.1

Subtotal 172 97.2Missing 5 2.8

Total 177 100

Service Hoursbetween 0-10 41 23.2between 11-20 20 11.3between 21-50 47 26.6more than 50 0 0Subtotal 108 61missing 69 39Total 177 100

Household Income Frequency Percent Major8,001.00-15,000.00 3 1.7 Arts & Sciences Frequency Percent15,001.00-25,000.00 5 2.8 English 7 425,001.00-40,000.00 16 9 Social Sciences 46 2640,001.00-60,000.00 25 14.1 Bio/Chem/Math 10 5.660,001.00-80,000.00 26 14.7 Communications 8 4.580,0001 or more 63 35.6 Theater 24 13.6

Not sure 36 20.3 Subtotal 95 53.7Subtotal 174 98.3Missing 3 1.7 BusinessTotal 177 100 Accounting 8 4.5

Commerce 20 11.3Subtotal 28 15.8

Education Frequency PercentChildhood 1-6 7 4

Adolescence 7-12 9 5.1Special Education 2 1.1

Subtotal 18 10.2

HospitalityTourism/Recreation 5 2.8

Hotel/Resturant 10 5.6Sport Management 7 4

Subtotal 22 12.4

Missing 14 7.9Total 177 100

Original 37 Questions A person receiving welfare should not have a nicer car than I

do Poor people will remain poor regardless of what's done for

them Welfare makes people lazy Any person can get ahead in this country Poor people are satisfied receiving welfare Welfare recipients should be able to spend their money as

they choose. An able-bodied person using food stamps is ripping off the

system Poor people are dishonest I f poor people worked harder, they could escape poverty

Most people are members of a minority group People are poor due to circumstances beyond their control.

Society has the responsibility to help poor people. People in welfare should be made to work for their benefits

Unemployed poor people could find jobs if they tried harder

Poor people are different from the rest of society Being poor is a choice Most poor people are satisfied with their standard of living

Poor people think they deserve to be supported Welfare mothers have babies to get more money Children raised on welfare will never amount to anything

Poor people act differently Poor people are discriminated against. Most poor people are dirty People who are poor should not be blamed for their

misfortune. If I were poor, I would accept welfare benefits. Out-of-work people ought to have to take the first job

that is offered The government spends too much money on poverty

programs Some "poor" people live better than I do, considering all

their benefits There is a lot of fraud among welfare recipients Benefits for poor people consume a major part of the

federal budget Poor people use food stamps wisely. Poor people generally have lower intelligence than non-

poor people Poor people should be more closely supervised I believe poor people have a different set of values than

do other people. I believe poor people create their own difficulties I believe I could trust a poor person whom I employ. I would support a program that resulted in higher taxes

to support social programs for poor people.

21 New Questions Everyone, regardless of circumstances,

should have enough food Everyone, regardless of circumstances,

should have health care Everyone, regardless of circumstances,

should have a place to live Most people who are poor waste a lot of

their time The poor are treated the same as

everyone else The poor have the same opportunity for

success as everyone else The poor face challenges that are the

same as everyone else Governments should do more to help the

poor Charities should do more to help the poor

Businesses should do more to help the poor

Individuals should do more to help the poor

Lack of transportation is a major challenge for the poor

Lack of social support (family, friends, church) is a major challenge for the poor

Lack of education is a major challenge for the poor

Lack of child care is a major challenge for the poor

Lack of self-control is a major challenge for the poor

It upsets me to know that many people are poor

I feel that I know what it is like to be poor

I feel that I understand why someone may be poor

I feel that I have enough direct experience with the poor

I feel that I could personally make more of a difference in the lives of the poor

Tracking Tool: 58 items reduced via Exploratory

Factor AnalysisSurvey Item Factor ScoreWelfareAttitude

There is a lot of fraud among welfare recipients 0.829

Benefits for poor people consume a major part of the federal budget 0.719

The government spends too much money on poverty programs 0.715

Welfare makes people lazy 0.696

Governments should do more to help the poor -0.669

I would support a program that would result in higher taxes to support programs for poor people -0.667

An able-bodied person using food stamps is ripping off the system 0.633

Poor people use food stamps wisely -0.603

Fundamental rights

Everyone regardless of circumstances should have a place to live 0.906

Everyone regardless of circumstances should have enough food 0.839

Everyone regardless of circumstances should have healthcare 0.774

Society, but not government, should help

Individuals should do more to help the poor 0.823

Charities should do more to help the poor 0.813

Businesses should do more to help the poor 0.793

Equal opportunity for all in U.S./flawed character?The poor have the same opportunities for success as everyone else 0.859

The poor face challenges that are the same as everyone else 0.8

Any person can get ahead in this country 0.613

The poor are treated the same as everyone else 0.605

Factors: Page Two

Survey Item Factor ScorePoor are different--negative connotations/flawed character

Poor people act differently 0.759

Poor people are different from the rest of society 0.751

I believe poor people have different set of values then do other people 0.748

Poor do face a lack of resources

Lack of education is a major challenge for the poor 0.831

Lack of child care is a major challenge for the poor 0.772

Lack of social support is a major challenge for the poor 0.679

Poor are different from me/social empathy

I feel that I know what it is like to be poor 0.786

I feel that I have enough direct experience with the poor 0.784

I feel that I understand why someone may be poor 0.59

Circumstances/environment counts--opposite of flawed character

People who are poor should not be blamed for their misfortune 0.774

People are poor due to circumstances beyond their control 0.728

Discussion

Lower score on remaining 29 items indicates more positive view of poor and more willingness to help.

Higher score shows less positive view and more belief in character flaws as underlying reason for poverty.

Result of EFA are quite promising Second round of data collection

including focus groups is underway

Questions related empathy reduced to three Showed no significant correlation

with other 7 factors; most disappointing

Need to expanded sample

CONCLUSION

Questions