Determinants of accuracy in cross-racial identification.
Item
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Title
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Determinants of accuracy in cross-racial identification.
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Identifier
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AAI9946132
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identifier
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9946132
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Creator
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Anderson, Justin Lee.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Bernard Seidenberg
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Date
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1999
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Experimental | Psychology, Social | Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
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Abstract
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The existence of an own-race face recognition bias has been reliably demonstrated by innumerable experiments. Subsequently, a cross-race effect or deficit for other-race faces must exist. The robustness of these findings is impressive, yet the explanation of the phenomenon remains elusive. This study replicates the own-race bias/cross-race effect, using a yes/no recognition task and Signal Detection analysis (d'), for White, Black, Hispanic and Asian observers and targets. Based on research across domains, e.g., information processing, learning, memory and cognitive processing, a theory utilizing the common denominator of developmental contact is posited. In order to assess such a dimension, observers from the four aforementioned races with multiracial parentage were tested on own- and other-race targets with the same procedures as above. These observers, regardless of self-declared race, demonstrated a multi-own-race bias corresponding to parentage. Predictors of own- and other-race accuracy were investigated in the hopes of establishing some arbitrary measure of eyewitness accuracy. A mock crime and lineup were presented to all observers. Again, for this more generalizable task, an own-race/parentage bias was found. In determining cognitive processing as a function of contact, automatic and rapid decision-making significantly predicted accuracy. Conversely, effortful/process of elimination strategies were less accurate and were accompanied by longer reaction times. Other-race contact from grade school onward was self-reported and was found to not significantly differ across populations. This, combined with own- race expertise/decision-making ability, and the fundamental quality of exposure across the aforementioned domains, support developmental contact as the raison d'etre behind the own-race bias/cross-race effect. A model based upon implicit learning through developmental exposure of covariation amongst relational characteristics of own-race faces is proposed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
