Stereotype Threat Theory: Do we have a good theory for organizational research?

Stereotype threat theory (STT), which seeks to understand intergroup differences in socioeconomic outcomes, has attracted considerable attention since its inception. With the goal of advancing conversation about the usefulness of STT in organizational settings, and to extend discussions on theory assessment, we evaluate STT as a “good” theory for organizational research using a three-pronged (i.e., 3E) theory assessment framework: experience, explain, and establish. Our critical analysis reveals areas where STT has made progress and where gaps remain to be addressed. The systematic approach we pursue allows for a rigorous articulation of the 3E framework for future theory assessment work as well as helps to suggest ways for improving upon and extending STT research in new directions.

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Testing Stereotype Threat Theory Predictions for Math Majors by Gender

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e518572013-377 ◽

2006 ◽

Author(s):

Shonna D. Waters ◽

Michael J. Cullen ◽

Paul R. Sackett

Keyword(s):

Stereotype Threat ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

Threat Theory

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Testing stereotype threat theory using SAT-grade and ASVAB-job performance relationships

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e518712013-005 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Chaitra M. Hardison ◽

Michael J. Cullen ◽

Paul R. Sackett

Keyword(s):

Job Performance ◽

Stereotype Threat ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

Threat Theory

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Women on the edge of a breakthrough? A stereotype threat theory of women’s angel investing

International Small Business Journal Researching Entrepreneurship ◽

10.1177/0266242620927312 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 768-797

Author(s):

Richard T Harrison ◽

Tiago Botelho ◽

Colin M Mason

Keyword(s):

Stereotype Threat ◽

Active Involvement ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

Angel Investing ◽

Mixed Networks ◽

Angel Investment ◽

Training Programmes ◽

And Training ◽

Threat Theory ◽

Research And Policy

The extent to which women participate in the angel investment market has become an important topic of research and policy interest. Based on UK survey data, we demonstrate that there are systematic but not unequivocal differences between women and men investors on a number of key investor and investment characteristics. We also report indicative evidence that members of women-only networks do differ from women who join mixed networks. Drawing on these results, we develop a stereotype threat theory perspective on women’s angel investing which highlights the cues, consequences, outcomes and responses to stereotype threat. Specifically, we theorise that stereotype threat influences women’s widely reported lower participation in the angel investment market. In addition, stereotype threat theory helps explain both women’s overall active involvement in the angel investment market and their participation in women-only investor networks. We conclude that there is a case for women-only angel networks and training programmes to mitigate the performance and participation consequences of stereotype threat.

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Stereotype threat as a psychological feature of work–life conflict

Group Processes & Intergroup Relations ◽

10.1177/1368430217735578 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 302-320

Author(s):

Andrea L. Miller

Keyword(s):

Stereotype Threat ◽

Family Caregiving ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Work Life ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

The Family ◽

The Life Course ◽

Threat Theory ◽

Work Life Conflict

Much remains unknown about the boundary conditions of stereotype threat and the factors that influence how it manifests in various domains. In particular, non-performance-related responses to stereotype threat have been relatively neglected, and little is known about stereotype threats in domains where group membership is less stable over the life course. Using both correlational and experimental methods, these studies use the work–life conflict domain to contribute to stereotype threat theory along these dimensions. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that stereotype threat based on caregiver status predicts increased use of coping strategies that involve sacrifices in work productivity, family caregiving, and personal well-being. Studies 1 through 3 suggest that formal flexibility accommodation policies (such as the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993) may not be an effective intervention in stereotype threat in the work–life conflict domain; providing informal social cues of support for employees with caregiving responsibilities, however, may be effective.

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Stereotype Threat in Black College Students Across Many Operationalizations

10.31234/osf.io/6hju9 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patrick S. Forscher ◽

Valerie Jones Taylor ◽

Daniel Cavagnaro ◽

Neil Anthony Lewis ◽

Erin Michelle Buchanan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stereotype Threat ◽

The United States ◽

Black College ◽

Small Samples ◽

Black College Students ◽

Negative Group ◽

Student Sample ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Threat Theory

According to stereotype threat theory, the possibility of confirming a negative group stereotype evokes feelings of threat, leading people to underperform in domains where they are stereotyped as lacking ability. This theory has immense theoretical and practical implications. However, many studies supporting it include small samples and varying operational definitions of “stereotype threat”. We address the first challenge by leveraging a network of psychology labs to recruit a large Black student sample (Nanticipated = 2700) from multiple US sites (Nanticipated = 27). We address the second challenge by identifying three threat-increasing and three threat-decreasing procedures that could plausibly affect performance and use an adaptive Bayesian design to determine which operationalization yields the strongest evidence for underperformance. This project should advance our knowledge of a scientifically and socially important topic: the conditions under which stereotype threat affects performance among current Black students in the United States.

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Does the Effect of Stereotypes in Older People Depend Upon Task Intensity?

Research on Aging ◽

10.1177/01640275211020680 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 016402752110206

Author(s):

Maxime Deshayes ◽

Raphaël Zory ◽

Rémi Radel ◽

Corentin Clément-Guillotin

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Stereotype Threat ◽

Older Women ◽

Task Difficulty ◽

Negative Stereotypes ◽

Perceived Effort ◽

Stereotype Threat Theory ◽

Threat Theory ◽

Different Levels ◽

Muscular Effort

This study examined the effect of negative and positive stereotypes on the strength produced by older adults at different perceived effort intensities, reflecting different levels of task difficulty. Fifty older women were randomly assigned to a positive stereotype, a negative stereotype, or a control condition. Before (T1) and after (T2) the stereotype manipulation, they were asked to perform a voluntary isometric contraction at a level of muscular effort that corresponded to four perceived effort intensities (“easy,” “moderate,” hard” and “very hard”). Results showed that participants attained greater strength during the easy and hard tasks after exposure to both positive and negative stereotypes. At the moderate and very hard intensities, stereotype induction did not significantly change the strength from the baseline performance. While these results are not fully in line with the stereotype threat theory, they provide evidence that task difficulty could modulate the effect of aging stereotypes during physical tasks.

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