Is Stereotype Threat Always a Bad Thing? An Exploration of the Impact of Stereotype Threat on Math and Language Performance

Seymoure, Kristen S, (2021) Is Stereotype Threat Always a Bad Thing? An Exploration of the Impact of Stereotype Threat on Math and Language Performance. Memorial University of Newfoundland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Previous stereotype threat (ST) research has shown how it, and its interaction with participant gender, can impair performance in various areas including math and language. Although negative ST effects are influenced by task difficulty, potential task order effects have not been assessed. The current study explored the influence of task order and task difficulty on ST (versus control) effects measured on math- and language-based tasks. Results from sixty-eight participants (61 females: Mage = 22.93, SD = 8.45; 7 males: Mage= 34.71, SD = 17.03) showed that women in the ST condition performed significantly better in the math task than women in the control condition when controlling for the covariate of perceived competency in math. Further, a significant interaction between task type and threat condition suggested that when controlling for perceived competency, women in the ST condition performed better on math tasks compared to women in the control condition, while the opposite can be seen for the language tasks. These results suggested that the presence of ST may improve female math performance if they are comfortable with math. Future research is needed to explore the effects of comfort/perceived ability levels in math and language areas and how they impact performance in ST and control conditions.

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