The purposes of this study were ( a) to provide documented accounts of cooperative
education students' experiences when interacting with diverse groups and (b) to obtain
cooperative education students' and work-site supervisors' perceptions of the knowledge
and attitudes needed by cooperative education students to interact effectively with diverse
groups. The outcomes of the study provided information related to the multicultural
theory of knowledge being positional and relating to the knower's values and experiences.
Focus groups (group interviews) that were designed to uncover participants' points of
view and perceptions were used to collect the data. Four groups of six cooperative
education students and two groups of six cooperative education work-site supervisors
participated in the study. Relevant topics, issues, and concepts relating to cultural and
ethnic diversity derived from a review of the literature were summarized and incorporated
in the discussion guides used with the student and work-site supervisor groups. All
participants completed demographic data sheets. Each session was tape recorded, and the
researcher took field notes.
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