Behavioural challenges of minorities: Social identity and role models

Abstract

We present a lab-in-the-field experiment and surveys of marginalised Roma children in Slovakia to examine whether reminding Roma of their ethnicity reduces their performance in a cognitive task. Research on social identity and stereotypes has documented that when individuals feel that their social group is negatively stereotyped in a domain, their performance declines, which can reinforce discrimination. In an effort to break the cycle of negative stereotypes, we remind Roma subjects of either Roma or non-Roma role models. We find that the activation of a Roma's ethnicity reduces cognitive performance. In contrast, Roma exposed to Roma role models outperform those reminded of their ethnicity and of non-Roma role models. We then attempt to understand the channels through which social identity and role models affect performance. We show that priming the identity of a Roma has a direct effect on confidence, decreasing performance.

Fig 1. Distribution of numeric puzzles solved by treatments.

Note: The figure presents comparison of numeric puzzles solved by control and all treatments (kernel density estimations).

Fig 2. Number of numeric puzzles solved by treatments.

Notes: Mean number of numeric puzzles solved by control and treatments. Error bars represent SE estimates. Significance level indications: ***p < 0.01, **p < 0.05, *p < 0.10.

Fig 3. Absolute confidence by treatments.

Notes: The figure presents comparison of absolute confidence measure by control and all treatments. Error bars represent SE estimates. Significance level indications: *** p < 0.01, ** p < 0.05, * p < 0.10.