S. Kaushik
Department of Psychology
Keshav Mahavidyalaya
University of Delhi
Delhi
Saloni Goyal
Department of Psychology
Keshav Mahavidyalaya
University of Delhi
Delhi
Komal Chandiramani
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
Keshav Mahavidyalaya
University of Delhi
Delhi
Abstract
Stereotype threat refers to the risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about one’s group. It affects not only our thought pattern but also the way we appraise and behave in a certain situation. Gender based stereotype is one example of such group based stereotypes that are prevalent in the society. The present study replicates one of the famous experiments by Steele and Aronson (1995) to gauge the effects of stereotype threat on female undergraduates on mathematical ability test. An experimental design was incorporated and based on the literature reviewed, it was hypothesised that there would be a significant difference in the performance of undergraduate females in the stereotype threat condition and control condition. For this, a purposive sample of 60 undergraduate participants was collected. Participants in the experiment were assigned to two conditions i.e. Stereotype Threat condition and Control Condition. The stereotype that ‘females are poor in maths’ was activated for participants in experimental group whereas no such activation was done for control group. In each condition, the Numerical Reasoning (a subscale of Differential Aptitude Test) was administered to females matched on age (18-21 years), previous exposure and performance in mathematics. Mean and standard deviations were calculated. Also, skewness was analyzed to understand the extent to which the distribution of values deviates from symmetry around the mean. Finally, t-test was used to find out the significant mean differences between the two conditions. The hypothesis was accepted stating that females in stereotype threat condition underperformed as compared to the ones in control condition upon activating the stereotype. The study was concluded by briefly foregrounding some of the study’s implications and future directions.
Key words: Stereotype Threat, Stereotype, Mathematics, Aptitude and Female.
