Race and competence as determinants of acceptance of newcomers in success and failure work groups

Abstract

Three-member groups worked on a judgmental task and received performance feedback about the groups' task success or failure (first independent variable). At the beginning of the second half of the experiment, Negro or white newcomers (second independent variable) were introduced under high- or low-task competency (third independent variable). A postexperimental questionnaire assessed group members' reactions to the newcomers (dependent variable). The findings showed that: High-competent newcomers were most preferred co-workers and preferences for high-competent newcomers were not affected by either race or performance feedback; and, success groups' preferences were made largely on the basis of the newcomer attribute of task competency (and not race) ; in contrast, nonsuccess groups' preferences were determined by both the newcomer's task competency and his race.