A Comparative Study of Social Attitudes Among Arts and Science Stream College Students in Ahmedabad City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.458Keywords:
Social Attitudes, Gender Differences, Academic Stream, Undergraduate StudentsAbstract
The present study explores differences in social attitudes among undergraduate students enrolled in Arts and Science streams in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with a particular focus on gender differences. Social attitudes particularly those regarding women’s status, family planning, and sex education are critical in shaping the values, behaviors, and socio-cognitive development of youth. This research employed a descriptive and comparative design, selecting 120 students through stratified random sampling, ensuring balanced gender and stream representation. The Social Attitude Scale by A.S. Patel et al. (1995) served as the main instrument, measuring three domains: women’s status, family planning, and sex education. Independent sample t-tests were used for analysis. Findings indicated that Science stream girls held significantly more progressive attitudes compared to science stream boys. However, no statistically significant differences were noted in the Arts stream or in the combined gender comparison. The implications suggest that educational stream and gender are interrelated influences on the formation of social attitudes, and education systems must consider these dynamics when designing interventions. The study underscores the importance of embedding value-based education, gender sensitization, and psychosocial support systems in academic institutions.
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34. Verma, R. K., Pelto, P. J., Schensul, S. L., & Joshi, A. (2004). Sexuality in the time of AIDS: Contemporary perspectives from communities in India. Sage Publications.
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