Race relations and experimenter race effect in galvanic skin response.

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study was designed to ascertain whether racial differences exist in the several components of the skin resistance response and to assess the importance of the role of the experimenter's race in determining the subject's responsiveness. Basal measures, GSR magnitude, and spontaneous GSR activity of 12 Negro and 12 Caucasian Ss were recorded by 2 Negro and 2 Caucasian experimental assistants matched for age, physical stature, and dress. Following a 15 min resting phase, all Ss received 14 1‐sec bursts of 75 dB white noise. Variable stimulus intervals were employed.Significant subject‐race effects, but no experimenter‐race effects, were found for base level measures. Negro Ss evidenced significantly higher basal resistance levels. Conversely, experimenter‐race effects, but no subject‐race effects, were apparent in the GSR magnitude data. White Ss showed a significantly slower rate of response magnitude decrease over trials when paired with black Es. A significant decrease in spontaneous activity over time was observed for all Ss.