PSY 499 Name:
Proposal Format 1
Bui 1
Senior Project Proposal for PSY 499
Submitted by Ngoc Bui
Working Title
An experimental Study on the Effects of Ethnicity and Gender on Social Perception and Impression Formation
of Résumés
Objective
Social perception studies show that perceivers use stereotypes or categories to understand their social
world (Franzoi & Herzog, 1988; Kunda & Thagard, 1996; Taylor & Fiske, 1978). The parallel-constraint-
satisfaction theory (Kunda & Thagard, 1996) states that people use different stereotypes about ethnic minority
groups as a way to organize their thoughts about members of these groups. These schemas, or mental
frameworks, can influence impressions that are made of ethnic minorities by limiting impression formation.
When certain schemas that are related to stereotypes are activated, perceivers will make biased judgments that
are based on these stereotyped schemas. One example is Friedland, Crockett, & Laird’s study (1973) on the
negative ratings female targets received when they held positions that were stereotypically masculine. Raters
formed impressions of these targets based on their schemas of women “in power”. These studies inspired the
current research project. Do people base their judgments of others based solely on stereotypes about gender
and ethnicity, without much other information? This is an important question, since there are many instances,
such as for job applications, answering personal ads, or finding a merchant in the phone directory, where all the
information that is given is the person’s name. Names often can be used to determine gender (feminine or
masculine) and can also indicate ethnicity.
