Stereotype accuracy

Methodological issues and empirical findings from stereotype accuracy research are reviewed. Methodological issues include the limitations of accuracy criteria and three methods of comparing perceived to actual group characteristics--signed discrepancies, absolute discrepancies, and within-subject correlations. Empirical findings concern the roles of cognitive processes, status and power, and social ideology in intergroup perceptions; stereotype development; individual differences in stereotyping; and stereotype use. It is argued that stereotype accuracy research is neither easy to do nor politically popular, but that it may challenge existing theory and stimulate new ideas about the nature of stereotyping processes. Keywords: AccuracyAssessmentBiasCognitive ProcessesDiscriminationEthnic GroupsEthnocentrismFamiliarityGender GroupsIn-group HomogeneityIntergroup RelationsMeasurementMulticulturalismOut-group HomogeneityPerceived Group VariabilityPowerPrejudiceSocial IdeologyStatusStereotype DevelopmentStereotype UseUncertainty