DOES MANIPULATING STEREOTYPE THREAT CONDITION CHANGE PERFORMANCE GOAL STATE

Abstract

This study tested whether the Stereotype Threat effect is mediated by achievement goals, in particular performance-avoidance goals. Threat level was altered before a difficult math test to observe how the endorsement by females of various achievement goal dimensions was affected. 222 people (96 females) in a pre-calculus class at a Mid-Western university participated. It was anticipated that females in the higher threat condition would show significantly more performance avoidance (PAV) endorsement than females in the lower threat condition; and that PAV endorsement would mediate the threat state - math test performance interaction. Analysis confirmed the presence of the stereotype threat effect with females in the high threat group under-performing on a math test compared to males. Women in the low threat group showed no such difference. MANOVA revealed that females in the high threat condition endorsed mastery goals at a significantly higher level than females in the low threat state. Endorsement of mastery goals mediated the threat state -math performance relationship. There were no significant results for performance avoidance. Female participants in the high threat group exhibited a different pattern of response for performance approach (positive valence (PAP+)) measures than those in the low threat group when level of mathematical domain identification was taken into account. The high threat group showed a marked increase in PAP+ endorsement as domain identification increased. Those in the low threat group had essentially constant PAP+ endorsement over domain identification. Additionally, negatively valenced performance approach achievement goal endorsement was measured for the first time.