Perceptual differences in racial descriptions of Euro-American and Hispanic persons

This study examined negative stereotypes held about Hispanic persons by 116 Euro-American graduating MBA students. Schein's 92-item Descriptive Questionnaire (1973) was rated by subjects as either positive (e.g., intelligent, persistent, ambitious, etc.) or negative (e.g., uncertain, 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 used to describe these two groups in general. Conversely, while 26 positive items were used exclusively to describe Euro-American persons, only one could be applied exclusively to Hispanic persons. The potential effects of such perceptions on Hispanic persons job opportunities are discussed.