Psyc345 Schema Lab

Students read one of the two sets of news clippings.

SET A

Continuing its crackdown on cocaine, police arrested John Washington, while he was working at a downtown construction site. Washington is accused of possession of crack cocaine, with the intent to distribute.

A general meeting of dorm residents was called, after a resident insisted that he be given a chance to state his grievances in public. According to Ron Edwards, several residents consistently have loud parties on the weekend, disturbing the peace.

SET B.

Continuing its crackdown on cocaine, police arrested John Washington, while he was studying at the Howard Tilton Library on Tulane UniversityÕs uptown campus. Washington is accused of possession of crack cocaine, with the intent to distribute.

A general meeting of community residents was called, after a resident insisted that he be given a chance to state his grievances in public. According to Ron Edwards, several residents consistently have loud parties on the weekend, disturbing the peace.

Measures:
Two ratings for John Washington: corrupt and immoral
Two ratings for Ron Edwards: whiny and ill-tempered
Multiple choice recognition measure to assess status

Choice among headlines for Washington and Edwards, respectively:

Resident irritated at noisy parties.(sv)
Complaining about more noise parties.(iav)
Grievances about noise to be stated tomorrow.(dav)
WhatÕs up with the surly resident?(adj)
Crackdown on another criminal.(adj)
Washington accused of selling drugs.(dav)
Pushing drugs in New Orleans.(iav)
Does he want kids to get addicted?(sv)

Loosely based upon:

Maass, A., Salvi, D., Arcuri, L., & Semin, G. (1989). Language use in intergroup contexts: The linguistic intergroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 981-993.