Title

Stereotype threat impacts college athletes’ academic performance. Current Research in Social Psychology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Abstract

This study examined the effects of negative stereotypes on college athletes’ academic performance. Seventy-two male college students on the university's football, basketball, or hockey teams took an intellectual test described as diagnostic or non-diagnostic of intelligence. Prior to testing, half the participants received a questionnaire designed to prime negative stereotypes about athletes, half received this questionnaire post-test. Participants underperformed on the test in the stereotype prime condition, even on the presumed non-diagnostic test. In addition, the more participants believed that athletic ability aided their admission into college the worse they performed on the test. These results indicate that negative stereotypes can affect athletes’ (a behaviorally-defined group) intellectual performance in college.

Comments

Originally published as: Jameson, M., Diehl, R. & Danso, H. (2007). Stereotype threat impacts college athletes’ academic performance. Current Research in Social Psychology, 12, 68-79. https://crisp.org.uiowa.edu/sites/crisp.org.uiowa.edu/files/2020-04/12.5.pdf

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