Cohen - 1981 (Stereotyping)

Cohen - 1981 (Stereotyping)

1. NAMRC

   • Aim - To see if stereotyping can affect memory
   • Method - Participants were shown a video of a man and a woman eating in a restaurant. Half of the participants were told that the woman was a waitress, and the other half were told that the woman was a librarian. Later, all the participants were asked to describe the personality of the woman
   • Results - The two groups gave entirely different descriptions of the same woman, which matched the stereotypes of the woman
   • Conclusion - Stereotypes will reduce the accuracy of accounts people make

2. Experiment was standardised in a way that every participant was tested in the same way.

3. Supports the idea that stereotyping can affect an eyewitness testimony

4. The study was conducted in a lab, meaning that the results lack ecological validity.

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