In a series of experiments, Steele and Aronson (1995) had both African-American and white students at Stanford University take a verbal test. In one condition, the test was described as a valid measure of intelligence, and in the other condition,
the test was described as neither a reliable nor valid measure of intelligence. In the former condition, African Americans performed more poorly than did white students because
a. African American students were overwhelmed by a fear of success.
b. African American students experienced stereotype threat.
c. White students were determined that African American students would not outscore them.
d. African American students shared the cultural stereotype.
Question 2
A woman would be most likely to experience stereotype threat when completing a(n)
a. calculus examination.
b. vocational interest questionnaire.
c. gender-neutral task.
d. English assignment.
Shirin Neshat, Rebellious Silence, from the series Women of Allah.
Jacob Lawrence, You can buy bootleg whiskey for twenty-five cents a quart, from the Harlem Series.
Roots of African Poverty
Bracket series
An example of continuous variation: biology students organized according to height.