Hamilton Stereotype Formation Study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see how stereotypes are formed for minorities by illusory correlation

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

70 American graduates

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

Shown groups A and B (half the size of A), described qualities, then asked to recall qualities of group A and B, rank them, guess which group performed a task, and say which group had traits that were undesirable

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

A had higher ranked positive traits and lower negative ones,
74% of A positive traits were recalled, only 54% for B, 55% negative traits for A and 65% negative for B

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Negative actions from a minority group stand out more as they are rarer, so people associate negative traits with them.