Title The cultural diversity climate "Big five" in schools: dimensions, facets, and a future research agenda
Authors Bardach, Lisa ; Schwarzenthal, Miriam
DOI 10.1177/10888683261458924
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Is Part of Personality and social psychology review.. Thousand Oaks, CA : SAGE Publications. 2026, vol. Early Access, iss. Early Access, p. 1-27.. ISSN 1088-8683. eISSN 1532-7957
Keywords [eng] diversity climate ; intergroup contact theory ; multiculturalism ; colorblind ; critical consciousness ; polyculturalism
Abstract [eng] Children and adolescents are growing up in increasingly ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse and often unequal worlds. Therefore, how schools, as key developmental contexts, approach diversity has important implications at individual, group, and societal levels. Here, we present a review, integration, and expansion of research on cultural diversity climate in schools, focusing on five dimensions of diversity climate (the cultural diversity climate “Big Five”) and their facets. We begin by distinguishing cultural diversity climate from other related terms (e.g., diversity ideologies, diversity policies). Then, we discuss the five core dimensions of diversity climate (intergroup contact theory’s optimal contact conditions, multiculturalism climate, colorblind climate, critical consciousness climate, polyculturalism climate). We examine facets subsumed under the dimensions, propose new theory-based facets, and outline differences and commonalities between them. Next, we review measurement approaches and highlight future research directions. Overall, this integrative, multidimensional, and multifaceted framework advances psychological theory on diversity climate.
Published Thousand Oaks, CA : SAGE Publications
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026
CC license CC license description