Effect of therapist title on perceived competence of a female therapist

A videotaped segment of a female therapist and female client was shown to groups of male and female undergraduates (N = 278) under six conditions. At the bottom of the screen one of the following six captions was presented: Dr. (name) and client, Ms. (name) and client, Mrs. (name) and client, Miss (name) and client, First and last name and client, and no caption. The students rated the therapist on 11 variables related to competence. Females tended to rate the therapist higher, and isolated effects for title were found; however, the magnitude of the differences was so small as to suggest that no important or meaningful differences had occurred.