Meaning-seeking in the illusory correlation paradigm: The active role of participants in the categorization process

The present research examines the role of categorical perception (McGarty, Haslam, Turner, & Oakes, 1993) in the illusory correlation paradigm. This a pproach assumes that the search for meaningful differences between two stim ulus groups can lead to the illusory correlation effect. This explanation i s investigated in Study I by presenting participants with constrained stimu lus information and examining whether accentuating evaluative differences b etween stimuli could provide a basis for illusory correlation. Results of t his study (N = 64) revealed illusory correlation effects that were related to evaluative reinterpretations of the stimuli. Study 2 (N = 19) focused on the causal relation between illusory correlation and accentuation effects, using the thinking-aloud technique. Detailed analyses of each participants ' behaviour indicated that illusory correlation can arise from actively see king intergroup differences and that reinterpretations of stimuli and the p erception of illusory correlation were mutually reinforcing. implications o f these results for stereotyping processes are discussed.