The effects of race and assertiveness on active and passive influencing : a four year follow-up

Date
1999-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to Expectation States Theory the status information of race will have an effect on the evaluation of an individual's performance, the interaction initiated, and on the acceptance or exertion of influence (passive and active influencing). Recommendations from the study done by Doming (1995) motivated the replication of the previous investigation four years later, in order to investigate the effects of race and assertiveness on the acceptance and exertion of influence (passive and active influencing). Two hundred and eighty eight white students studying at a Historically White University in South-Africa took part as subjects conducting a computer based task with a presumed but simulated partner. The variable race was operationalised by means of a photograph of the presumed partner being presented to the subject on a computer screen, and the variable assertiveness by means of items from the Personal Assertion Analysis as self-descriptions of the simulated partner. A 3x3 experimental design was employed and variance results (AN OVA) were analysed. The findings constituted that race had a significant effect on influence acceptance (passive influencing) but not on influence exertion (active influencing). The variable, assertiveness, did not significantly effect influence acceptance or exertion (passive and active influencing). The white subjects accepted significantly more influence from black partners in 1998 than in 1994. This might indicate a change in the status value of what was in the 1994 results still considered to be a low status characteristic.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgens die "Expectation States Theory" sal 'n persoon se ras 'n invloed he op die evaluering van die individu se prestasie, die interaksie wat geinisieer word en op die aanvaarding of uitoefening van invloed (passiewe en aktiewe beinvloeding). Aanbevelings in Dorning (1995) se studie het die herhaling van die aanvanklike ondersoek vier jaar later gemotiveer, om sodoende die effek te bepaal wat ras en assertiwiteit het op die aanvaarding of uitoefening van invloed (passiewe en aktiewe beinvloeding). Twee honderd agt en tagtig wit studente van 'n Historiese Wit Universiteit het deelgeneem as die subjekte wat 'n rekenaartaak gedoen het met 'n veronderstelde maar gesimuleerde medewerker. Die ras veranderlike is geoperasionaliseer deur middel van 'n foto van die veronderstelde mede- werker wat op die skerm verskyn het, en die assertiwiteit veranderlike deur middel van items uit die "Personal Assertion Analysis" as selfbeskrywings van die gesimuleerde rekenaar medewerker. 'n 3x3 Eksperimentele ontwerp is gebruik en variansie ontledings (ANOVA) is gemaak. Daar is bevind dat ras 'n beduidende effek op invloed-aanvaarding (passiewe bei"nvloeding) gehad het, maar nie op invloed-uitoefening (aktiewe beinvloeding) nie. Die veranderlike, assertiwiteit, het geen beduidende effek op invloed-aanvaarding of - uitoefening (passiewe en aktiewe beinvloeding) gehad nie. Die wit subjekte het in 1998 beduidend meer beinvloeding aanvaar van . swart rnedewerkers as in 1994. Dit kan moontlik dui op 'n verandering in die status-waarde van wat in 1994 nog beskou is as 'n lae status kenmerk.
Description
Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1999.
Keywords
Influence (Psychology), Assertiveness (Psychology), Race -- Psychological aspects, Dissertations -- Psychology
Citation