There is a very helpful website on this topic with suggestions for teachers at: http://www.reducingstereotypethreat.org. Many empirically-supported ideas for reducing stereotype threat (which didn’t include not writing the student’s name on their paper) are included on this page at the site: http://www.reducingstereotypethreat.org/reduce.html. They do include the suggestion of putting demographic info at the end of the test instead of the beginning but don’t mention not asking for the student’s name. In any case, it would appear they could write it at the end with no ill effect (even if there was evidence of such an effect).
As to the effect of writing your name, it seems it could go either way. If writing your name primarily reminds you of your gender, it could have an impact. However, some of the ways of dealing with stereotype threat involve activating positive self-conceptions and, to the extent that your name activates schema, it seems it could also be used to activate some of these positive conceptions, also. If you replaced names with student ID number (which could be useful for other purposes like anonymous grading), it would be interesting to see to what extent a person’s student ID number might be associated with various self-relevant schema. Rick Dr. Rick Froman Professor of Psychology Box 3519 John Brown University 2000 W. University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 rfro...@jbu.edu<mailto:rfro...@jbu.edu> (479) 524-7295 http://bit.ly/DrFroman "The LORD detests both Type I and Type II errors." Proverbs 17:15<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2017:15&version=NIV> From: Rob Weisskirch [mailto:rweisski...@csumb.edu] Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 11:13 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Stereotype threat and writing your name Tipsfolk, I'm reading the NEA's newsletter, Higher Education Advocate, and there is an article on stereotype threat and inclusivity. One tip that is given is "Something as simple as writing one's name on an exam can remind students of their gender, race, and/or ethnicity, so small procedural modifications can make a big difference." And, the article goes on to say--use a numerical coding system and other tips. But, really? Does anyone know if there is evidence that stereotype threat is activated by writing one's name? Rob Rob Weisskirch, MSW. Ph.D., CFLE Professor of Human Development Program Coordinator, Human Development program Liberal Studies Department California State University, Monterey Bay 100 Campus Center, Building 82C Seaside, CA 93955 (831) 582-5079 rweisski...@csumb.edu<mailto:rweisski...@csumb.edu> This message is intended only for the addressee and may contain confidential, privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy or disclose any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: rfro...@jbu.edu<mailto:rfro...@jbu.edu>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13039.37a56d458b5e856d05bcfb3322db5f8a&n=T&l=tips&o=41706 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-41706-13039.37a56d458b5e856d05bcfb3322db5...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-41706-13039.37a56d458b5e856d05bcfb3322db5...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=41707 or send a blank email to leave-41707-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
