Question

Claude Steele and his colleagues conducted a study in which black and white students took a test that was described as being diagnostic of intelligence. Half of these students indicated their race on a demographic form immediately before the test ad the other half did not. According to the logic of stereotype threat theory, what is the most likely consequence of this subtle manipulation?

a. black students did not do as well on the test as white students, when race was primed.
b. white students did worse on the test than black students, when race was primed.
c. black students did worse on the test because it was described as being diagnostic.
d. black students did better than hate students, when race was primed.

Answer 1

When black students indicated their race on a form before taking an intelligence test, according to stereotype threat theory, they likely performed worse than white students, as the salience of race can activate concerns about confirming negative stereotypes.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the logic of stereotype threat theory, the most likely consequence of asking students to indicate their race on a demographic form before an intelligence test is: a. black students did not do as well on the test as white students, when race was primed.

This outcome stems from the psychological phenomenon known as stereotype threat where individuals underperform on tasks where their social group is stereotyped to be inferior. When racial identity is made salient ahead of a task that is represented as measuring an ability where a negative stereotype exists about their racial group—like intellectual aptitude—it can increase anxiety and concern about confirming that stereotype, thereby affecting performance. This theory has been demonstrated in numerous studies, which show that when individuals feel they are in a situation where they are at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about their social group, their performance may be hindered.