University faculty perceptions and utilization of popular culture in the classroom

Abstract

This article discusses results of a survey on the utilization of and attitudes and beliefs towards the use of popular culture among faculty in higher education. A total of 212 faculty members from a mid-sized public regional university provided responses, with the majority indicating that they utilize popular culture in their classroom teaching with some frequency. Overall, the sample exhibited moderately high levels of confidence in their ability to use popular culture effectively, and found popular culture to be both important to incorporate and beneficial for enhancing critical thinking. Significant differences in both frequency of use and attitudes and beliefs were found among teaching disciplines, with those in Humanities and Social Sciences utilizing popular culture more frequently and having more positive attitudes and beliefs towards popular culture than participants in natural sciences and mathematics. A set of guidelines were provided to help advance the use of popular culture in higher education.