Did National Service Change Perspectives?
This study examines whether advantaged Americans can gain insight into inequality through programs like Teach For America (TFA). Using a unique quasi-experimental design, it analyzes how two years of engagement with disadvantaged communities affects the beliefs of TFA corps members.
Data & Methods
- Analyzed over 32,000 original survey responses from TFA applicants during cycles 2007-2015.
- Employed regression discontinuity design leveraging TFA's selection criteria.
Key Findings
- Prolonged intergroup contact in service contexts reduced advantaged individuals' perspective gap with the disadvantaged.
- These results suggest national service programs can effectively foster empathy and understanding across socioeconomic divides.
Why It Matters
These findings challenge assumptions about inequality perception by demonstrating that structured, long-term engagement can bridge previously unbridgeable differences.
