Explaining support for post-secondary educational funding for indigenous students.

Abstract

A concerning post-secondary education gap exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals in Canada. One program designed to help address this issue, the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), provides eligible First Nations students with post-secondary education funding. Although such programs are beneficial, it is unclear how much Canadians support public funding of Indigenous education and whether psychological research can help explain why some may endorse or oppose it. Thus, using the PSSSP as an example, we examined five possible psychological predictors of public support: personal prejudice toward Indigenous Peoples, perceived social mobility, meritocratic beliefs, group zero-sum beliefs, and political conservatism. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that all would negatively relate to support for the PSSSP. In a sample of non-Indigenous Canadian adults, we found that only higher personal prejudice, group zero-sum beliefs, and political conservatism uniquely explained lower support for the program (or conversely, lower prejudice, group zero-sum beliefs, and political liberalism were related to higher program support). Although correlational, this study provides insight into factors that may influence Canadians' attitudes toward a program aimed at addressing a consequential societal inequality. We discuss the implications of these findings in regard to support for programs and policies targeted at marginalized groups. Public Significance StatementThis research provides psychological insight into factors related to non-Indigenous Canadians' attitudes toward helping disadvantaged groups, in particular, support for Indigenous post-secondary education funding. Knowing whether and why non-Indigenous Canadians may support Indigenous education funding can shed light on where we are in terms of reconciliation, and help shape a path forward.

Some psychological determinants of broad union attitudes

“…Political Orientation -We assessed political orientation in general, fiscally and socially (3-items, α = .944), similar to prior research (e.g., Genge & Day, 2021). Responses were indicated along a liberal to conservative scale (1 = very liberal, 7 = very conservative), with additional responses (for general: 8 = don't know/not political, 9 = libertarian, 10 = other; and for fiscal and social: 8 = other).…”

“…Responses were based on a sample of 212 Canadian participants recruited from Prolific for prior research(Genge & Day, 2021). The study was titled "Opinions of People and Programs in Canada. "…”

Exploring associations between intergroup contact, ideology, and support for new restrictive cannabis policies and penalties in Canada.

“…Positive attitudes toward minority groups were associated with greater support for policies related to restorative action toward disadvantaged groups in Spain and Canada (Urbiola et al, 2017). When policies pertain to more specific actions or programs targeting marginalized groups, Genge and Day (2021) found that non-Indigenous individuals who expressed prejudicial attitudes toward Indigenous Peoples were more likely to express lower support for a program aimed at providing postsecondary funding support to Indigenous students. Moreover, research conducted by Dixon et al (2010) examined the mediating role of prejudice in the relationship between intergroup contact and disagreement of policies benefitting marginalized groups.…”