Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Fair or Favor? Student Perceptions on Academic Accommodation

Publication Date

Winter 11-24-2025

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Adam Smiley

Presentation Type

Metadata Only

Abstract

This experimental study aims to investigate the perception of those with accommodation in the classroom environment, and whether it differs based on varying types of disabilities. While evidence has demonstrated prejudice towards individuals with disabilities and the fairness of their received accommodations (Deckoff-Jones & Duell, 2018), especially for learning disabilities, research has yet to explore how this perception of accommodations will be in a school setting and how they may vary for three different types of disabilities: mental, physical, and cognitive. The purpose of our study was to examinate how students would react to the accommodations that a student would receive in a scenario for different disabilities in a college classroom environment. With a sample of 50, mean age of 19.72 (SD = 1.87), participants were randomly assigned one out of three potential vignettes with different conditions. We first hypothesized that the scenario of the student with physical disabilities would be most positively perceived, while the mental disability scenario perceived more negatively. We also hypothesized that people are more likely to give more accommodation to individuals with physical disabilities. Finally, those who have had more contact with disabled individuals will be more geared towards deservingness of accommodation, and that disabled individuals will favor accommodation more than those who don’t have disabilities. Understanding the perceptions that others have on those with disabilities may help develop ways we can relieve stereotypes or prejudice that disabled individuals may face. (Results will be presented at SURS).

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