Short-Term Effects of Human Relations Training (HR-17): A Pre Post Comparison Group Evaluation Study.

A study was conducted to determine the effects on school employees in Rockville, Maryland, of an in-service training program studying ethnic groups in America. The study gathered data on school employees before and after enrollment in the course in order to measure changes in knowledge of ethnic groups, racial attitudes, classroom practices, and relationships with minority students. The study found that the in-service program provided short-term benefits for school employees in the area of knowledge of racial and ethnic groups in American society. In addition, participants reported profiting from the course in the areas of understanding and interacting with minority students. However, no gains were demonstrated in areas such as racial attitudes, general racial behaviors, or classroom behaviors for teachers. A discussion of the methodology of the study and a sample of the survey instrument are included in the report. (Author/APM)