Direct and indirect assessment of group homogeneity perceptions in a natural group setting

Abstract

The present study addresses the hypothesis that a group with low-status and small size (Angolan immigrants living in Portugal) is homogeneized more than the corresponding high-status majority group (Portuguese natives). Angolan immigrants and native Portuguese performed an impression formation task of ingroup and outgroup homogeneity. In support of our hypothesis, results showed that participants homogeneized Angolan group members more that Portuguese group members. Results further showed that this effect was corroborated with most of the six direct measures and the two indirect measures. The discussion focuses on the role of the groups’ positioning within a social structure on homogeneity perceptions assessed by means of direct and indirect measures.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v17i2.461