Explaining the Prevalence of White Biological Racism against Blacks

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Principal investigators:

Ashley Jardina

Duke University

Email: ashley.jardina@duke.edu

Homepage: https://sites.duke.edu/ashleyjardina

Spencer Piston

Boston University

Email: spiston@bu.edu

Homepage: http://www.spencerpiston.com/


Sample size: 2045

Field period: 11/03/2015-06/17/2016

Abstract

We seek to explain the continuing relevance of biological racism.

Hypothesis/Research Questions:

We hypothesize that describing racial health disparities as genetically based increases (1) biological racism; (2) opposition to government efforts to reduce these disparities.

Experimental Manipulations

There are three conditions. In two of the conditions, subjects review a (fictitious) news article; in the third, the Control Condition, subjects read nothing. In the Race as Genetics Condition, the news article attributes racial disparities in heart disease to genetic factors. In an additional treatment, the Race as Social Construction Condition, the news article attributes racial disparities to social factors. Next, subjects rate how evolved whites and blacks are, as in previous studies. Finally, subjects are asked whether they support increased government spending on reducing racial health disparities.

Outcome Variables:

1. Respondents rate how evolved blacks and whites are on a 0-100 scale. 2. Respondents are asked whether they support increased government spending to reduce racial disparities.

Summary of Results

Experimental conditions are not statistically associated with the distribution of responses to the outcome variables.