Amanda Brodish
Department of Psychology
1202 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI, 53706
Phone: 608-265-3960
Email: abbrodish@wisc.edu

My dissertation research explores the effects of social stereotypes on performance.  Past research has shown that when women are reminded of negative stereotypes about their math ability, they perform more poorly on math tasks compared with women who are not reminded of such stereotypes and men regardless of what they are told about stereotypes (Spencer et al., 1999).  While much research has been devoted to understanding why this occurs, little is known about the process underlying this phenomenon – known as “stereotype threat”.  By integrating existing research on stereotype threat with achievement goal theory and processing efficiency theory, I have developed a model to clarify this process.  The core tenet of this model is that knowledge of gender stereotypes leads to the pursuit of performance-debilitating achievement goals and worry about one’s performance. The goal of my dissertation is to test this model and to develop an intervention, allowing women to perform to their potential in math.  In Studies 1 and 2, I will use self-report, behavioral, and physiological assessments of the key variables outlined in the model to test for the statistical fit of the proposed model.  In Study 3, I will examine the efficacy of an intervention to reduce the pernicious effects of stereotype threat in the laboratory.  This dissertation lays the groundwork for future classroom-based research examining the effectiveness of the proposed intervention in allowing women to perform commensurate with their ability in math; thus, permitting women to excel in the traditionally male-dominated fields of math and science.

I am also exploring the nature of people’s goals and concerns for interracial interactions.  Past research has demonstrated that some individuals want to reveal their personally accepted nonprejudiced attitudes to others in interracial interactions, whereas others want to conceal personally accepted prejudice from others in such situations.  I am currently working on a series of studies demonstrating the existence of these distinct interpersonal goals – using self-report, behavioral, and reaction time measures.  In addition, I am beginning to explore the relationship between these distinct interpersonal goals and anxiety about interracial interactions.