HISPANIC AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN REACTIONS TO A SIMULATED RACE-BASED AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION SCENARIO

The present study investigated the affective responses of 169 Hispanic and 196 African American participants to a simulated selection decisi on involving race-bared affirmative action. Type of implementation pro cedure and qualification of beneficiary were manipulated in the simula ted scenario, and subjects' affective reactions, perceptions of fairne ss and competence, and feelings of stigmatization were measured. Stron g effects were obtained for the recipient qualification and affirmativ e action procedure manipulations. Race differences (African American v s. Hispanic) on the majority of dependent variables were not significa nt. The present study demonstrated that as long as minority group memb ers did not feel they were less qualified than other applicants, the n egative consequences of being preferentially selected were muted.