PERCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES IN RACIAL DESCRIPTIONS OF EURO-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC PERSONS

This study examined negative stereotypes held about Hispanic per sons by 116 Euro-American graduating MBA students. Schein's 92-item Descrip tive Questionnaire (1973) was rated by subjects as either positive (e. g., intelligent, persistent, ambitious, etc.) or negative (e.g., uncer tain, passive, nervous, etc.). 53 items were characterized as positive while 18 were considered negative. When applied to Euro-American and Hispanic persons, zero and 8 negative items, respectively, could be us ed to describe these two groups in general. Conversely, while 26 posit ive items were used exclusively to describe Euro-American persons, onl y one could be applied exclusively to Hispanic persons. The potential effects of such perceptions on Hispanic persons job opportunities are discussed.