InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies

The 2015-2016 Undergraduate Research Partnership Initiative (URPI) study explored students’ use of social media to engage in discussion of racial/ethnic diversity and campus climate. The purpose of the study was to better understand how students utilize social media to talk about issues of racial/ethnic diversity and campus climate to inform how UCLA might capitalize on social media use to promote a safe, welcoming and empowering campus environment. Eighteen interviews and an in-depth content analysis of student Facebook pages were used to explore the following questions: 1) How do students describe their posting behaviors and engagement with issues of racial diversity and campus climate on social media? 2) How frequently do students use social media to discuss issues of racial diversity and campus climate in either positive or negative ways? and 3) What does participant posting behavior and engagement with issues of racial diversity and campus climate on social media say about the utility of social media in promoting a positive campus climate?