WHEN BAD ISNT ALL BAD - STRATEGIC USE OF SAMPLE INFORMATION IN GENERALIZATION AND STEREOTYPING

The influence of the reliability and valence of sample information on generalization to in-group and out-group target populations was invest igated in 2 studies. In both studies the valence of the information wa s either favorable (i.e., a positive in-group sample and a negative ou t-group sample) or unfavorable. The reliability of sample information was manipulated in terms of sample variability (Study 1) and sample si ze (Study 2). In both studies the perceived central tendency of favora ble sample information was directly generalized, but unfavorable and u nreliable sample information was not. Moreover, generalizations based on unfavorable and unreliable samples were characterized by enhanced v ariability estimates for both in-group and out-group populations, ther eby undermining unfavorable group differences. These results are discu ssed in terms of strategic use of sample information in the formation of social stereotypes.