Final answer:
Kenneth and Mamie Clark's research in 1947 focused on the doll preferences of African American children, revealing a preference for White dolls and spawning the conclusion that segregation negatively affected their self-concept. Their findings contributed to the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education to desegregate schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kenneth Clark and Mamie Clark were pioneering African American psychologists who conducted groundbreaking research involving African American children and doll preference. Their studies in 1947 revealed that when given a choice between Black and White dolls, the majority of African American children preferred the White doll and ascribed positive characteristics to it. This finding was used to argue that segregation in schools was causing these children to develop a sense of inferiority regarding their own race.
The Clarks' work was instrumental in the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education to end the 'separate but equal' racial segregation in schools, as it provided compelling evidence of the negative psychological effects of segregation on minority students.
The significance of the Clarks' findings went beyond the realm of psychology as their research became a crucial component of the legal argument presented by the NAACP in Brown v. Board of Education. The couples' contributions to social justice and civil rights highlight the broad effects that sociological research can have on society and law.