Effects of Stereotype Threat, Perceived Discrimination, and Examiner Race on Neuropsychological Performance: Simple as Black and White?

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the predictive roles of stereotype threat and perceived discrimination and the mediating role of examiner-examinee racial discordance on neuropsychological performance in a non-clinical sample of African American and Caucasian individuals. Ninety-two African American (n = 45) and Caucasian (n = 47) adults were randomly assigned to either a stereotype threat or non-threat condition. Within each condition, participants were randomly assigned to either a same race or different race examiner. All participants underwent neuropsychological testing and completed a measure of perceived discrimination. African Americans in the stereotype threat condition performed significantly worse on global NP (Mz = −.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.07, −0.67] than African Americans in the non-threat condition (Mz = 0.09, CI [0.15, 0.33]. African Americans who reported high levels of perceived discrimination performed significantly worse on memory tests when tested by an examiner of a different race, Mz = −1.19, 95% CI [−1.78, −.54], than African Americans who were tested by an examiner of the same race, Mz = 0.24, 95% CI [−0.24, 0.72]. The current study underscores the importance of considering the role of contextual variables in neuropsychological performance, as these variables may obscure the validity of results among certain racial/ethnic groups.

The Effect of Varied Test Instructions on Neuropsychological Performance following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Investigation of “Diagnosis Threat”

“…Only 46.67% and 66.67% of the experimental groups remembered the DT and DT-reduced instructions, respectively, but this difference was not significant across these conditions (v 2 (1) = 1.22; p = 0.269). Whether the participants in other DT studies recalled their instructions cannot be determined because this study was the first to employ a postexperimental check of this type; however, in the broader stereotype threat literature, a similar post-experimental instruction recall percentage was noted, 14 suggesting that our result may not be atypical. It is also possible that the wording of our instructions did not sufficiently activate the threat because they did not include a specific instruction that the examinee's performance would be compared to those of the diagnostic group.…”

“…It is also possible that the wording of our instructions did not sufficiently activate the threat because they did not include a specific instruction that the examinee's performance would be compared to those of the diagnostic group. Peer comparisons have been suggested as an important component of stereotype threat instructions; 14 however, mTBI DT studies have typically not included this element (for an exception see Ozen and Fernandes) 24 and our DT instructions were almost identical to those used by Suhr and Gunstad. 11,21 A third possibility is that the threat effect was not sufficiently activated because of the sample characteristics.…”

“…15 A wide range of other outcomes have also been found to be susceptible to stereotype threats, including psychophysiological measures, 16,17 cerebral activation assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 18 and automatic performance tasks. 19 While some of the effects on cognitive tests are selective rather than global, 14 taken together, these findings suggest good support for the stereotype threat effect. Although the same level of support for mTBI DT has not yet been demonstrated given its relationship to stereotype threat, it is possible that DT effects might be similarly potent.…”

“…11 This term was based on a broader and earlier established concept, ''stereotype threat. '' 12,13 The stereotype threat literature has shown that threats based on racial 14 and gender stereotypes can change cognitive test performance. 15 A wide range of other outcomes have also been found to be susceptible to stereotype threats, including psychophysiological measures, 16,17 cerebral activation assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 18 and automatic performance tasks.…”

“…11 In some tests of the stereotype threat it is also made clear to examinees that their test results will be compared to the stereotype reference group. 14,20 However, even without the latter instruction, in two very influential papers Suhr and Gunstad clearly demonstrated an mTBI DT effect. 11,21 These seminal studies demonstrated the mTBI DT effect across a range of cognitive tasks in a sample of university students with a self-reported history of mTBI.…”