Changing Children's Attitudes Toward Physically Handicapped Peers: Effects of a Film and Teacher-Led Discussion

Abstract

Numerous studies indicate that elementary-aged children hold negative attitudes to wards physically handicapped peers. As a pretest, the attraction of 280 fourth graders to a photograph of a handicapped child using crutches and braces was assessed. A film emphasizing the similarities between a handicapped student and able-bodied peers was evaluated by randomly assigning the students by classroom to one of three groups: a group which only viewed the film, a group which saw the film and participated in a teacher-led discussion, or a control group. Posttests administered to the subjects immediately following the film and again 1 week later were two attraction measures and a measure of interest similarity between subjects and a handicapped peer. The data used to analyze treatment effects were from those students whose attraction to a handicapped peer was at the median or below on the pretest. Compared to controls both interventions had an effect on students' attraction to the physically handicapped peer; however, there was no effect on interest similarity. The effects on attraction were maintained over the follow-up period. It was concluded that the film had value for improving children's attitudes toward a physically handicapped peer but there was not evidence that the change was mediated by the “similarity attraction” model.