Rogers & Frantz (1961): Social Identity Theory & Stereotypes (Racism in Rhodesia)

Memorization Deck

What principle of the sociocultural approach is demonstrated in the study?

Humans are social beings with a fundamental need to belong

What is mornative influence?

The impact of group norms on an individuals behaviour and attitudes

What factors are often ignored when forming stereotypes?

Economical, political, and historical factors

What hypothesis did Rogers and Frantz test?

Attitudes of European settlers about Africans would become more conservative with increased time in Rhodesia.

How did researchers define “conservatism”?`

Wanting to maintain a system of racial segregation

What was the sample size of the sutyd?

500 White Europeans

What was the range of residencylength in Rhodesia for participants?

Fewer than 5 years to over 40 years

What method was used to measure attitudes?

A likert scale survey

How many response options did the survey provide?

Four

What was the mean score of the survey results?

2.45

What percentage of participants scored below a mean of 3.00

70%

What variables were not significantly correlated with racial attitudes?

Age, sex, district of residence, and income

What variables showed signifiant correlations with racial attitudes?

Contry of birth, occupation, length of schooling, religious affiliation, political party preference, and length of residence.

What was the level of significance for the correlation between residency length and conservatism?

p < 0.001

What change was observed in residents living in Rhodesia for 5-9 years compared to new comers?

They were 27% more conservative about maintaining segregated facilities.

What does the study suggest about new arrivals attitudes over time?

They conform to the norms of the European population and adopt stereotypes.

Why is the study considered cross sectional rather than longitudinal?

It did not track changes in individuals’ attitudes over time

What is a limitation of using surveys in this study?

Participants may express stronger opinions that they would in real-life situations.

What does the study reveal about the intergration of stereotypes?

Stereotypes and attitudes about the African population become part of newcomers’ social identities

Why is it difficult to generalize the findings to other contexts?

They study is specific to Souther Rhodesia and may not apply to other cultural or societal contexts.