Racial Differences In Perceptions Research Articles

Racial Differences in Perceptions of Starting Salaries: How Failing to Discriminate Can Perpetuate Discrimination

Despite recent findings suggesting the presence of racial differences in the perception of starting salaries, researchers have yet to empirically investigate this possibility. Consequently, this study examined the interactive effects of race, ethnic identity, and starting salaries on the salary perceptions of 342 undergraduates. Hispanic, Asian American, and White participants exhibited positive effects of salary whereas Black respondents failed to discriminate between the different salaries. However, a three-way interaction involving ethnic identity, race, and salary revealed a more complex pattern of responses for Black participants: Higher ethnic identifiers responded similarly to Hispanic, White, and Asian Americans. The implications of these results regarding the perpetuation of racial wage inequity are discussed.

Nature, Nurture, Neither, Nor: Black-White Differences in Beliefs about the Causes and Appropriate Treatment of Mental Illness

We use the 1996 General Social Survey (GSS) to explore racial differences in perceptions of the etiology and treatment of mental illness. We find that African Americans are more likely than whites to reject the idea that mental illnesses are caused by either genetics or an unhealthy family upbringing, but this effect does not extend to other biological or environmental explanations of psychological disorders. We propose that blacks may be more skeptical than whites of genetic- and family-based explanations because of their resemblance to arguments that have been used to criticize blacks and justify their disadvantaged structural position. Additionally, we find that racial differences in etiological beliefs play a substantial part in explaining African Americans' tendency to have more negative attitudes than whites toward professional mental health treatment. These findings suggest not only that etiological beliefs may reflect broader political debates about race but also that these beliefs may beat the core of some of the differences in the attitudes of blacks and whites toward professional help-seeking

Racial disparity in cardiac decision making: results from patient focus groups.

While numerous studies suggest that African Americans receive fewer invasive cardiac procedures than whites, the basis for these treatment differences is not understood. We conducted focus group sessions with patients who had received treatment in the hospital or the emergency department within the preceding 3 months for ischemic heart disease at 2 urban, university-affiliated hospitals. Discussions with patients identified the following factors that influenced their decision making: clarity, simplicity, and consistency of treatment recommendations; advice from friends and family about whether to accept recommendations; availability to speak with others who accepted similar recommendations; and having honest and caring physicians. African American patients identified the following additional factors that influenced their decision making: perceptions of health care discrimination; perceptions of undesirable physician behavior; faith in God to control one's destiny; and patient-physician camaraderie. Participants identified common issues influencing health care decision making, regardless of race. However, additional factors were expressed only by African American participants. These factors conveyed racial differences in perceptions of the health care system that may, in part, contribute to differences in health care decision making and treatment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF FUTURE LAND USE AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE: ARE THERE RACIAL DIFFERENCES?

People make subjective judgments about the severity of environmental problems and on future land use relying on certain information, and on their experiences with the problem. This article examines perceptions of the severity of environmental problems, willingness to expend future funds to solve these problems, and future land use for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina as a function of race. The null hypothesis that there are no racial differences in perceptions was tested. Of those interviewed, 23% of the 399 people were black, 75% were white, and 2% identified themselves as other. Blacks were significantly more willing than whites to spend federal funds to solve environmental problems such as cleaning up the SRS and Superfund sites, fixing ozone depletion, and reducing the threats from radon and hightension power lines. There were statistically significant racial differences in preferences for future land use at the SRS, with blacks having a higher preference for using it as a preserve, and whites having a higher preference for a research park, camping, hiking, and hunting. These results indicate that the environmental concerns of the blacks interviewed were equal to or stronger than those of the whites. This is in contrast to much of previously published work that shows that blacks exhibit lower concerns and actions than whites for environmental problems.

Justice for all? Race and perceptions of bias in the Ontario criminal justice system – A Toronto survey

This paper extends previous work on conflict theory by examining racial differences in the perception of criminal injustice. The data are taken from a 1994 general population survey ofblack, Chinese and white residents in Toronto, Ontario. Initial results indicate that blacks are more likely to perceive discrimination within the criminaljustice system than either whites or Asians and that these racial differences persist after controlling for various demographic variables. Additional analysis suggests that racial differences in perceptions of injustice are at least partially explained by differences in experiences with the police and the courts. While police contact increases perceptions ofinjusticefor blacks, it has no impact on the perceptions of whites or Asians. Furthermore, while court contact increases perceptions ofinjusticefor all respondents, the effect is more pronounced among black respondents. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Racial differences in perceptions concerning hypertension and its consequences.

To investigate racial differences in hypertensive patients' understanding of their disorder, we administered a questionnaire to 83 black and 260 white outpatients with the diagnosis of hypertension designated in their medical chart. No racial differences in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, age, or male/female ratio were observed. However, blacks were more likely than whites to identify renal failure as a consequence of hypertension, whereas whites were more likely to identify atherosclerosis. Blacks also were more likely than whites to accept higher diastolic blood pressures as normal (90 to 100 mm Hg versus 80 to 90 mm Hg). There was no correlation between knowledge and blood pressure. Our observations show that both racial groups are well educated about antihypertensive therapy as well as the consequences and complications of hypertension. Comprehensive treatment of hypertension should include educational strategies that are population-specific and that address ways to change disease-relevant behaviors, rather than merely identifying which behaviors to change.

Racial Differences in Perceptions of Media Advertising Credibility

Racial Differences in Perceptions of Media Advertising Credibility

Racial Differences in Perceptions of Affluence

Abstract This study examines perceptions held by inner-city blacks and whites of the extent of affluence in America. Blacks generally tend to believe that affluence is more widespread than do whites, although substantial variation in racial differences occurs across sex and age categories. Controls for socio-economic characteristics have little effect on racial differences in perceptions of affluence. The analysis suggests that race has an effect on perceptions of affluence that is independent of the effects of social class.

Racial differences in pigmentation of the Fundus oculi

An empirical evaluation of the correspondence between skin pigmentation and density of pigmentation in the Fundus oculi seemed desirable as a measure preliminary to further study of possible racial differences in perception. Fourteen Negro and 26 Caucasian males between the ages of 8–12 (matched for age on an approximately one to two basis), were rated for density of fundus pigmentation on a four point scale by an opthalmologist. A close correspondence between race and fundus pigmentation density was found, with 12 of the 14 Negro children categorized in a distinctly denser class of fundus pigmentation than 24 of the 26 Caucasian children.