Testing Stereotype Threat

Osbourne, Jason. (2001). Testing Stereotype Threat: Does Anxiety Explain Race and Sex Differences in Achievement? Contemporary Education Psychology, 26. 291-310.

Osbourne’s goal of his study was to examine whether anxiety will explain racial differences in academic performance and gender differences in math performance. His research is based on the Steele’s research or lack there of. Steele’s (1992, 1997) stereotype-threat theory attempts to explain underperformance of minority students and women in mathematics. Steele argues that internalization of negative group stereotypes in testing situations increases the anxiety that students experience and that these anxiety levels explain performance differences. Osbourne’s study confirms that stereotype threat is a viable theory.

I can really relate to the argument presented in this article because anxiety plays out everyday in my classroom. I believe that my students have internalized all of the negative stereotypes that come along with living in Kalihi and attending Farrington High School. Many people expect them to fail so they have internalized these negative stereotypes. It is not so much race or gender, but community association. It is my responsibility to address this failure/negative mentality. I have to motivate students who have done poorly in math. This is the biggest challenge that I face. Anxiety can be conquered through investment and confidence through achievement.