Snap Judgements: Vulnerable Decision Points Leading to Disproportionate Discipline
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Date
2021-09-13
Authors
Sanchez, Jonathon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Disproportionate discipline, the overrepresentation of predominately Black and Latinx students in school disciplinary actions, has led to students from these groups being suspended more frequently and for longer durations than their White peers. This trend is found most often in subjective discipline incidents (SDIs) where authority figures must use their judgment in deciding if a rule violation has occurred in a situation (i.e., defiance and disruption). The vulnerable decision point (VDP) model identifies these moments as key points where a person’s implicit bias may increase the likelihood that disproportionate discipline outcomes will result for stereotyped students. The VDP model also recognizes that environmental factors such as time of day, day of week, and fatigue level increase the likelihood that implicit bias will manifest in SDIs.
In this dissertation study, I analyzed extant discipline data from a large Pacific Northwest school district (PNWSD) to (a) identify disproportionate discipline patterns and (b) apply the VDP model to pinpoint possible environmental factors that might be useful when planning interventions to reduce the impact of implicit bias on educators’ responses to subjective discipline incidents. The key finding points to a relation between time in school year and the disproportionate discipline experienced by Latinx students. Implications for school districts as well as suggestions for extensions of this research in other fields are discussed.
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Keywords
Discipline, Disproportionate, Environmental Stressors, Implicit Bias, Latinx, Vulnerable Decision Points