Affirmative Action:

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             The term "affirmative action" brings with it a sense of confusion and uncertainty as to precisely what it refers to. When studying affirmative action research suggests that a researcher must either precisely define what definition they are using for affirmative action at the time or omit the words "affirmative action" all together ( Converse and Presser 1986; Seigman and Welch 1991). A number studies have reviewed the differences in the perceived negative effects of preference and quota based affirmative action programs as compared to the actual effects of these programs (Bobo and Kluegal 1993). Perception of these programs and attitudes towards support of stated programs vary by the class status and racial identity of the perceivers. The general consensuses of findings support that the perception that non-minority individuals hold, that they are being reversely discriminated against, are incorrect. In application these perceptions are grossly over representative of the actual occurrences of people experiencing "reverse discrimination," or are being passed over due to these types of preference based of quota filling programs .
             (Gamson 1992; Gamson and Modigliani 1987; Kinder and Sanders 1990; Kluegel and Smith 1986; Steeh and Krysan 1998). This "reverse discrimination" is said to occur when an individual of non-minority ethnic decent is not awarded a position or advancement as a result of preferential treatment being awarded to an individual who is of minority ethnic decent. There is then a misunderstanding surrounding these affirmative action programs. Somewhere between the application of the program and the way people perceive its use, there is an understanding disparity that warrants further study. While this element of the problems with gauging acceptance of affirmative action will not be discussed in this research there is a need for this to be considered in subsequent work.