Stone et al. (2010) (stereotypes, cognitive reliability, confirmation bias)

Aim of Stone et al. 2010

to investigate if processing info based on existing schema can influence our interpretation and memory of new info

General procedure of Stone et al. 2010

participants told name of male basketball player and shown photo of him before listening to a recording of a basketball game

What was the independent variable in Stone et al. 2010?

race of man in photo

What was the dependent variable in Stone et al. 2010?

perception of player's strengths

What were the two conditions in Stone et al. 2010?

half of participants shown photo of black athlete (1), other half white (2)

How did participants rank the player in the black athlete condition in the Stone et al. 2010 study?

Black athlete condition: ranked player as "significantly more athletic ability and having played a better game"

How did participants rank the player in the white athlete condition in the Stone et al. 2010 study?

White athlete condition: rated player as "exhibiting more basketball intelligence and hustle"

How could the results of the Stone et al. 2010 study be explained?

By activating a schema of race of particular athlete, the participants' interpretation of their performance was affected

What is a strength of the Stone et al. 2010 study?

study seems to confirm existence of a stereotype about athletes in US

What is a limitation of the Stone et al. 2010 study?

doesn't explain how social schema of race and sporting ability developed