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Perceptual accuracy and stereotyping in evaluations of persons from different provincial regions within Papua New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Michael O'Driscoll
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Waikato
Frank Core
Affiliation:
Department of Education, University of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Students at the University of Papua New Guinea were shown photographs of persons representing all provincial regions in Papua New Guinea. They were asked to rate each target person on ten evaluative dimensions and to identify the provincial origin of the person in the photograph. The percentage of correct identifications was relatively low, suggesting that respondents were generally unable to assess provincial origins solely on the basis of visual information. Evaluative ratings illustrated a positivity or favourability bias in judgments of the target persons, but, contrary to earlier findings of Shea and Jones (1976), there was little evidence of stereotyping. The results are discussed in the context of social perception and the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea 1987

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