Workgroup productivity: the implications of African‐Americans’ racial stereotypes for cooperative job designs

Abstract

The effectiveness of work groups can be strongly affected by their “cohesiveness”. This study examined stereotypes held by African‐American college students regarding African‐American, Euro‐American, and Hispanic persons. The 92‐items in Schein’s Descriptive Questionnaire were rated by subjects (graduating African‐American undergraduate business students) as either positive (e.g. intelligent, persistent, ambitious, etc.) or negative (e.g. uncertain, passive, nervous, etc.). A total of 55 items were characterized as positive while 11 were considered negative. African‐American students perceived African‐Americans in general in a favorable light when compared to Euro‐Americans and Hispanic persons. The potential effects of such perceptions on African‐Americans’ integration into business organizations and mixed working groups are discussed.

Citation

Bass, K., Tomkiewicz, J., Adeyemi‐Bello, T. and Vaicys, C. (2001), "Workgroup productivity: the implications of African‐Americans’ racial stereotypes for cooperative job designs", Work Study, Vol. 50 No. 7, pp. 263-268. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000006265