Abstract:
Research has shown stereotype threat to be an effective barrier to the educational pursuits of African American scholars. This dissertation examined the impact of stereotype threat on the academic performance of Black students attending two large public institutions in Alabama (one HBCU and the other PWI). Additionally, this research explored stereotype threat with special consideration to the possibility of potential moderators. The results suggest that, in conjunction with certain moderators, stereotype threat not only impacts performance on items from GRE tests, but does so differentially for students depending on the type of institution they attend. Also, this research implies that GPA, aspects of racial identity and stigma consciousness serve as moderators of the relationship between stereotype threat and performance. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism(s) underlying stereotype threat as well as the individual differences, situational circumstances or other mechanism(s) that buffer against or amplify the phenomenon.
