The Effect of Stereotype Threat Upon African American Students
1. The Effects of Stereotype Threat upon Academic Performance among African American Students By Andre Smith
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3. Self Esteem In African American Students The extent to which African American students view race as a central aspect of their self-concept is irrelevant to their level of personal self esteem. (Rowley et. al, 1998) Awareness of racism positively correlated with self esteem. (Van Laar, 2000)
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5. Methods 62 African American university students participated in a survey which was given to the majority of them online. (Due to nature of location) Stereotype manipulation was provided on half of all surveys. Survey informed participants of the breach in academic achievement between White and Black students. Surveys concluded reading, writing and math abilities of average black students compared to white students. Surveys included eight math questions from the NAEP, Oyserman’s Racial Identity scale, and Rosenberg’s Self Esteem scale.
6. Research Questions How does stereotype manipulation effect the self esteem? How does stereotype manipulation effect racial identification? How does stereotype manipulation effect academic performance?
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8. RQ2 – There is a significant negative relationship between racial identity and stereotype manipulation. r = -3.554
11. When and individual’s group faces discrimination or rejection a common strategy is to strengthen group identity to protect self esteem. (Phinney, 1992)
15. Making race salient may hinder school engagement and academic achievement in African American students.
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18. ST in this case attacks the racial identity of the individual
19. African American students have learned to detach their self esteem separate from their racial identity, and separate from their academic performances.
20. Stereotype manipulation is the only variable that changes the pattern of racial identity and academic performance.
21. Under the lens of SIT this may be explained by students willing to conform to race association, and devalue the domain(math questions). However, this cannot be explained because students under ST did not score higher on racial identity.
![What is Stereotype Threat, Social Identity Theory? Stereotype Threat ,[object Object],- Has been primarily studied in the context of Academic settings. (Steele,1997) Social Identity Theory - Proposes that the more strongly individuals identify with their group, the less favorable attitudes they hold towards dissimilar groups.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)