Chavez, George. The role of perceived ethnic identity in minority categorization of Latino targets. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T36D5SRC
DescriptionResearch has yet to explore how engagement in cultural practices drive inferences about a target’s ethnic identity. I test the hypothesis that expertise in a cultural practice, referred to as cultural fluency, leads to inferences about a target’s ethnic identification, but only to the extent that the cultural practice is seen as requiring effort. We randomly assigned participants to two different language prime conditions in which they either (1) read an article highlighting language as an acquired skill (requiring effort) or (2) a control article. They then evaluated either a Spanish-speaking (high cultural fluency) or French-speaking (low cultural fluency) Latino candidate for a minority internship, rating the target’s ethnic identification, ethnic effort, minority categorization, and appropriateness for affirmative action. Contrary to our hypothesis, the language prime did not moderate the effect of cultural fluency (Spanish-speaking ability) on minority categorization, and moderated the effect of cultural fluency on ethnic identity in an unexpected direction. We discuss related results, possible methodological issues, and the implications of our findings for how cultural knowledge affects perception.