White Men in White coats: Children’s Attributions of Scientific Knowledge based on Race and Gender

Authors

Lillian C. Holm, University of LouisvilleFollow
Mariel R. Cox, University of LouisvilleFollow
Khushboo S. Patel, University of LouisvilleFollow
Judith H. Danovitch, University of LouisvilleFollow

Program/Event

Undergraduate Research Showcase Spring 2023

Abstract

Children use others’ characteristics (e.g., intelligence and niceness) to evaluate how much a person knows (Landrum et al., 2016). However, little is known about how gender and race influence children's perception of adults' scientific knowledge. The current study examined how children ages 5-8 (N = 25; 11 girls, 14 boys) perceive adults’ scientific knowledge. In the first task, children saw 8 different adults of varying race and gender (White man, White woman, Black man, Black woman) and rated their knowledge using a five-point scale. Children then chose one person out of two adults who they thought knew more about a scientific topic across 12 trials. In the last task, children saw 4 different adults of varying race and gender and chose which person was the scientist. Preliminary analyses showed no significant differences between children’s knowledge ratings and selection of Black and White men and women. However, children chose White men as scientists in the greatest proportion of trials. The current study will expand our understanding of how children’s perception of an adult’s scientific knowledge is impacted by the adults’ race and gender.

Recommended Citation

Holm, Lillian C.; Cox, Mariel R.; Patel, Khushboo S.; and Danovitch, Judith H. (2023) "White Men in White coats: Children’s Attributions of Scientific Knowledge based on Race and Gender," The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 1: Iss. 4, Article 16.
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol1/iss4/16