Is Diversity Experience Make More Tolerant? Study of Student`s Tolerance in Indonesia

Research on intolerance examines diversity experiences as an important factor for decrease it. The number of intolerance practices in Indonesia makes this research was needed. Besides, trends of an exclusive schools and housings incresead will decrease diversity experiences.

In many literatures related to intolerance, contact hypothesis is a form of effective intervention strategy to reduce prejudice and discrimination. The contact hypothesis strategy is done by enhancing experience with different entities. A study of Kanas, Scheepers, and Sterkens (2015) in Indonesia proved that the more interacting groups of Islamic and Christian people tend to have a more positive attitude toward each others. Increasing contacts between groups can improve understanding of other groups which in turn can help to recategorize. A person`s belief can be modified when the person interacts with someone else who has a different category than the typical group category.

This study conducted during September-October 2017 using quantitative method. We used 1522 students of high school in Indonesia from 34 provinces. We used Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) in gathering our data. We measured opinion and action tolerance using tolerance scale which consist 16 items. To measure diversity experience, 2 items were used: "How do you often associate with friends from any different religions?" and "How often do you work with friends from any different religions?.

The results showed that students who are getting along with other students from different religions then they are more moderate and tolerant. To encourage more moderate and tolerant behavior, cooperation between students with different religions in highly recommended.