The effects of source credibility on the dilution of stereotype-based judgments Author Neil Macrae, John Shepherd, Alan Milne Publication Year 1992 Type Journal Article Abstract The present research investigated the relationship between stereotypical and individuating information in judgmental tasks. In particular, it was hypothesized that, in addition to considering the nature of the individuating information presented to subjects, it is also important to investigate how the credibility of the source of this information can affect stereotype dilution. Extending ideas from the literature on persuasion, the present results supported the prediction that subjects differentiate between high-and low-credibility sources only when they provide stereotype-disconfirming individuating information. They did not, however support the contention that stereotype dilution is invariably mediated by a reliance on the representativeness heuristic. These findings are considered in the wider context of cognitive approaches to stereotyping and stereotype change. Keywords credibility, social perception, stereotyped attitudes Journal Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin Volume 18 Pages 765-775 Type of Article Journal Article DOI 10.1177/0146167292186013 Full text The following is an excerpt of the intervention methodology. For more information, please see the full text of the article on the publisher's website or through your institution's library. Method Subjects and Design Ninety-six pupils (16-18 years of age; 48 males and 48 females) from a comprehensive school in Gloucester, England, participated in the experiment. The study had a 2 (Credibility of Source: high/low) X 2 (Target: skinhead/male hairdresser) X 3 (Individuating Information: confirming/disconfirming/neutral) between-subjects design. Stimulus Materials and Procedure Subjects were presented with a statement of a behavior performed by a male target, followed by a number of questions. the target was identified by his forename and described as either a skinhead or a male hairdresser. There then followed a description of a single behavior the target had performed. This behavior was either stereotype confirming, stereotype disconfirming, or stereotypically neutral. [...] After learning of the target's behavior, subjects gave their ratings (again on 9-point scales) of his aggressiveness and typicality. The aggressiveness scale was anchored 1, not at all, to 9, very, and the typicality scale 1, not at all typical, to 9, very typical. [...] Type of Prejudice/Bias Other Country United Kingdom Method Lab Setting Middle/High School (Grades 6-12) Google ScholarDOIBibTeX
