This study focused on 108 UCSC students of color, examining their sense of belonging and perceived costs of political engagement. All of the participants were enrolled in a psychology research methods course. The instructor provided a link that participants could access on their personal devices, directing them to Qualtrics. 

A bivariate correlation analysis revealed a significant, weak negative relationship (r = –0.218, p = 0.025), indicating that higher perceived political engagement costs were associated with a lower sense of belonging. 

The study’s use of convenience sampling, self-report data, and correlational design limits causal conclusions and generalizability, suggesting that future researchers use broader sampling and longitudinal designs. 

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