Cross-cultural education and gender The attitude of secondary school youth towards selected nations

Abstract

The paper presents results of a research conducted in nine Polish secondary schools. It refers to the impact of workshop on Islamic cultures on perception of Arabs and other nations. Two measurement tools were used: semantic differential scale (10 items) and social distance scale (10 grades). Apart from influencing the attitudes toward Arabs (specific effect) the workshop also influenced the attitudes toward other cultures – Roma and Hindu (non-specific effect). Significant were also gender differences, both in regard to the initial declared openness toward the Other, preferences of nations and effects achieved in both groups after the workshop.