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SAQ marking: Stereotyping

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  • SAQ marking: Stereotyping

Below you will find four sample SAQs for the question: Explain one study of stereotyping.

For each of the samples, refer to the rubric to award marks 1 - 9. After each sample, there is a predicted grade as well as feedback on the strengths and limitations of the sample.

SAQ rubric

SAQ Sample 1

One of the theories that explains why stereotyping happens is the illusory effect, explained through a study done by Hamilton and Gifford. Stereotyping is defined as attributing behaviours to certain groups based on schema. It has an effect on our perception. The illusory effect says that people tend to make weak links between two variables which help with categorization of others.

The study done by Hamilton and Gifford looked at how stereotypes happen especially how negative stereotypes get attributed to a group.  There were two groups group consisting of 26 individuals. 18 were described through statements that had positive traits and 8 that had negative traits.  Group B consisted of only 13 individuals, where the ratio of negative to positive traits remained the same -  9:4. These statements were then presented to participants in a quick manner in order to see actually how quickly stereotypes can form. They were then asked to answer how they felt about each of the groups on a series of traits such as helpfulness, reliability and kindness.

The results suggested that group B was perceived to have more negative traits.  This can be explained by illusory correlation. In the minority group it seems that there is a higher number of individuals that have negative traits, thus leading participants towards stereotyping the whole group as being more negative.  This result can also be explained through confirmation bias where we tend to want to look for information that confirms our beliefs such as the minority possessing more negative traits.

254 words

The theory is identified (although the name is not correct), but not explained in enough detail.  The procedure is not really clearly outlined; there is an error in the numbers making the idea that there is a 9:4 ratio of positive to negative statements difficult to understand. The conclusions are satisfactory, but could be better explained.  The final line of the SAQ is not directly relevant to the theory.  Predicted: 5/9 marks.

SAQ Sample 2

Stereotyping is a form of generalization where one judges an individual based on group membership or physical attributes.  A theory about the origin of stereotyping is illusory correlation.  Illusory correlation is when people perceive a correlation between two variables when no actual relationship between the variables exists. A false correlation is the result of the fact that rare or surprising behaviours are more salient and thus we tend to notice and remember them more. This results in a cognitive bias that can affect one’s judgment and perception of an individual.

Hamilton and Gifford carried out a study to test the relationship between group size and one's perception of the group’s traits. In the study, they showed participants statements about two groups simply called Group A and Group B.  Group B was smaller than Group A and was thus the minority group.  The statements were about individuals in each group and showed them either exhibiting positive or negative traits and behaviours.  The proportion of positive to negative statements was the same in each group.  After being shown these statements, the participants were asked to estimate how many positive and negative traits each group had. Hamilton and Gifford found that the participants overestimated the number of negative traits for the minority group and rated the minority group’s behaviour more negatively overall.

The researchers argued that these results were the result of an illusory correlation.  The proportion of negative to positive statements about each group was the same, so there was no actual correlation between belonging to the minority group and bad traits.  The negative traits were more distinct in the minority group, because of the smaller group size and appeared to be representative of the group.  The participants had made the illusory correlation between a number of the minority group and negative behaviour.  This could lead to stereotypes being created that all members of the minority group had negative traits.

320 words

A good SAQ.  The study is well explained by linking the study explicitly to a theory.  The experiment is clearly outlined with the aim, procedure and the results.  The aim could be more precise, but otherwise, this response should earn top marks.  Predicted: 8/9 marks.

SAQ Sample 3

One study that studies stereotyping, specifically the origin of stereotypes, is the Hamilton and Gifford study that had people shown both in-group and out-group traits.  The study had an equal ratio of positive traits and negative traits, but the out-group was smaller. This meant that overall, fewer traits were shown about the out-group which represents minorities in real life.

The results of the study showed that the participants remembered the minority group’s negative traits more than their positive traits.  The larger group was seen as having better characteristics.  In terms of the origins of stereotyping, this explains confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is shown when participants disregard all of the minority’s positive traits and only focus on the negative ones.  This is because they saw them as outsiders.  Another factor that comes into the origins of stereotyping is one’s self-esteem.  The in-group generalized the out-group in order to increase their self-esteem, and this links with social identity theory.

Hamilton and Gifford’s experiment can link stereotyping to SIT, but an issue with the experiment is that it is not realistic in terms of stereotyping in the real world.  The experiment is very artificial and does not explain stereotyping long term.

200 words

This SAQ is rather problematic.  First, there is no explanation of the study. The student is referring to SIT but Hamilton and Gifford did not a study of SIT per se. The study is not described in any clear detail. The link to confirmation bias is unclear with regard to SIT and the study that is outlined. Evaluation of the study is not relevant to the question.  Predicted: 3/9 marks.

SAQ Sample 4

It is natural for people to make different in-groups and out-groups and categorize people into those groups.  People will then give some group members different characteristics which they will then apply to everyone in their in-group. This is called stereotyping. People do this automatically because that is how they know who they can include in their in-group.  Hamilton and Gifford’s study proved that people treat other people differently because of the stereotype that they get from other people.  The effects of this could be that people don’t get treated equally just because of the stereotypes that we give them.  For example, in German people get treated differently because of history, or homeless people get treated really badly because of the amygdala that gets triggered.  Different people can be really affected by the cause of stereotyping because they feel like they are part of something that might not even be part of reality.  However, we can’t help but stereotype because we do it automatically if we want to or not.  But the question is if we believe in those specific stereotypes or if we can just ignore them.

180 words

This is another poor SAQ.  There is no study.  Hamilton & Gifford is "cited", but there is no knowledge of the study demonstrated.  The theory on which the study is based is not specifically identified, but there is some attempt to outline SIT.  Much of the response is anecdotal in nature.  Predicted: 2/9 marks