Investigating biases in how preschool teachers assess children of color
Examining Potential Biases in Preschool Teachers’ Behavioral Assessments of Children of Color
This study looks at how preschool teachers might judge the behavior of Black and Hispanic children differently than White children, even when their social-emotional skills are similar, to help improve fairness in how kids are treated in school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Opinion Research Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10867774 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research examines how preschool teachers' behavioral assessments may differ based on the race of children, specifically focusing on Black and Hispanic children compared to their White peers. By analyzing a large-scale dataset, the study aims to uncover whether children of color receive harsher evaluations despite having similar social-emotional skills. The goal is to understand the underlying biases that contribute to disparities in disciplinary actions, which can have long-term effects on children's development. This research seeks to provide insights that can inform better practices in preschool settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are preschool-aged children, particularly those from Black and Hispanic backgrounds.
Not a fit: Children who are not in preschool or those from racial backgrounds not represented in the study may not receive benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more equitable assessment practices in preschool education, ultimately benefiting children of color.
How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on biases in K-12 settings, this research is novel in its focus on preschool assessments and aims to fill a gap in the existing literature.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- National Opinion Research Center — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le, Vi-Nhuan — National Opinion Research Center
- Study coordinator: Le, Vi-Nhuan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.