Effects of Client Race on Clinical Judgment of Practicing European American Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

Abstract

This Web-based study investigated the effects of client race on the clinical judgment of practicing European American vocational rehabilitation counselors, specifically, whether participants demonstrated bias in their general evaluation, perceptions of psychopathology, and estimates of the educational and vocational potential of African American clients. Participants reviewed case materials depicting either an African American or a European American client and rendered judgments (a) once after minimal initial information was provided, when initial impressions could be more vulnerable to racial stereotypes, and (b) once after subsequent information was provided, facilitating more definitive judgments. African American clients were judged more negatively than European American clients, and these differences persisted after reviewing subsequent information. Implications for treatment planning are discussed.