Behavioral Goals for a Diverse Organization: The Effects of Attitudes, Social Norms, and Racial Identity for Asian Americans and Whites

• Published in: Journal of applied social psychology 2003-07, Vol.33 (7), p.1331-1359
• Main Authors: Linnehan, Frank, Konrad, Alison M., Reitman, Frieda, Greenhalgh, Anne, London, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action theory; Ajzen, I; Asian Americans; Attitudes; Behavior; Ethnicity; Fishbein, M; Intergroup relations; Organization theory; Organizational culture; Racial identity; Social norms
• ISSN: 0021-9029; 1559-1816
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2003.tb01952.x

This research identified 5 behaviors that may enhance the effectiveness of a diverse organization and used Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action to identify predictors of these behaviors. Results from samples of White and Asian undergraduate students from 2 universities generally supported the Fishbein and Ajzen model. Attitudes and subjective norms were significant predictors of behavioral intentions when gender, race, and social desirability bias were controlled. Racial identity also had a significant, positive effect on attitudes toward diversity‐related behaviors among the Asian American students, but no significant effect among Whites. These results supported our reasoning that members of historically excluded racial groups with strong racial identities will be most likely to welcome organizational attempts to become more pluralistic because pluralism means that their valued identities will be respected rather than repressed.