 | Lee Tillman California State University, Northridge PsychologyMentor(s)Lee Jussim, Ph.D. Rachel Rubinstein Sean T. Stevens Kristin Vick Department of Psychology Rutgers University |
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| The effects of stereotype-consistent information verses stereotype-inconsistent information on memory | ||
| We are exploring whether stereotypes distort or assist memory and if they improve or undermine the accuracy of memory. One hypothesis is that stereotypes bias people towards remembering stereotype-consistent attributes. Another hypothesis is that stereotypes bias people towards remembering stereotype-inconsistent attributes. If either of the aforementioned biases occurs to an extreme, they could undermine accuracy. However, it is possible that stereotypes aid in memory because they provide a scheme for organizing information. We are examining the effects of memory among people who receive both stereotypical-consistent and stereotypical-inconsistent information about a Black and a White college applicant. Participants are given 2 applications from perspective Rutgers University students. Half of the applications give the race of the applicant, the other half does not. In one condition, the Black applicant will have stereotype-consistent extracurricular activities (e.g. plays basketball, in the NAACP) and in another the Black applicant will have stereotype-inconsistent extracurricular activities (e.g., hockey team, chess club.) The same will apply to the White applicant. This will identify conditions under which participants recall more information. |