An Investigation of Stereotype Threat in Employment Tests
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2009
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Abstract
This investigation extends stereotype threat research by examining its effect on sex and ethnicity in employment testing. Study 1 used archival data from a company-specific cognitive ability test, demonstrating score increases (greater for some minorities) when applicants completed demographic items after a cognitive skills test, rather than before the test. The first experiment (Study 2) used college students taking the same company-specific test with inconclusive results. Possible reasons dictated the design of a second experiment with a college population (Study 3). This study used the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) and investigated priming through positioning of demographic items, as well as high/low threat. Positioning of the demographic items after the WPT was associated with an increase in test scores.
DOI
10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00442.x
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Kirnan, Jean Powell; Alfieri, Julie Ann; Bragger, Jennifer; and Harris, Robert Sean, "An Investigation of Stereotype Threat in Employment Tests" (2009). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 85.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/85
