Shifting standards for female ethnic minority students? Evidence from two experimental studies

In 2 studies conducted in Germany, we investigated preservice teachers' stereotypical judgement biases regarding Turkish female students and the application of shifting standards in stereotyping. Study 1 (N = 148) showed that Turkish students' German language proficiency received lower judgements, but other - particularly social - dimensions received more favourable judgements compared with German students. In Study 2 (N = 290), we examined shifting standards in stereotyping in relation to Turkish female students, considering different reference groups. These 2 reference groups differed in academic achievement levels and prestige. Preservice teachers did not judge the Turkish student more positively when her reference group was high achieving, indicating shifting standards, but they judged the German student more positively when she was in a low-achieving group.