In a research internship, Priya is the only student from a community college on a team of students from elite universities. On the first day, a senior researcher says, “This lab moves fast; community college students often struggle with the theory,” and asks Priya to briefly describe her school’s acceptance rate in front of the group. During a later meeting, Priya hesitates to ask clarifying questions and makes a mistake in a protocol she had practiced, saying afterward that she was trying not to “prove them right.” How would stereotype threat be expected to affect performance in this context?
- Priya may make more errors because concern about confirming a stereotype diverts attention and increases pressure during evaluation. (correct answer)
- Priya should make fewer errors because highlighting group differences increases mastery orientation and improves learning automatically.
- Priya’s mistake is best explained by the halo effect because the senior researcher’s status makes all feedback seem positive.
- No effect is expected because stereotype threat only occurs when people are tested on physical skills rather than cognitive tasks.
Explanation: This question examines stereotype threat in academic research settings, where institutional prestige differences can activate performance-impairing stereotypes. Stereotype threat occurs when individuals face situations where negative stereotypes about their group are relevant, creating cognitive load as they monitor their behavior to avoid confirming stereotypes. Priya experiences stereotype threat when the senior researcher expresses doubt about community college students' abilities and asks her to highlight her school's lower status, making her educational background salient in an evaluative context. The correct answer (A) accurately explains how concern about confirming stereotypes diverts attention and increases pressure, leading to hesitation and errors despite preparation. Answer B incorrectly suggests highlighting differences improves performance, contradicting research showing stereotype threat typically impairs performance. A key principle is that stereotype threat is triggered by situational cues that make group membership salient when negative stereotypes exist about that group's competence.