Researchers dropped 100 unsealed envelopes containing money around the campus of a Swedish university. Half the letters were addressed to a person with a common Swedish surname (A. Andersson), whereas the other half of the letters were addressed to a person with a common Muslim surname (A. Abdullah). The researchers found that ____.
A)more than half of the letters with the Swedish surname were returned, while slightly over one-third of those with the Muslim surname were returned
B)nearly all of the letters were returned, regardless of the surname
C)almost none of the letters were returned, regardless of the surname
D)nearly all of the letters with the Swedish surname were returned, while slightly over half of those with the Muslim surname were returned

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This choice is correct because it reflects findings from studies that have explored how implicit biases and stereotypes can influence behavior, even in contexts like returning lost letters. The difference in return rates between letters addressed to a common Swedish surname versus a common Muslim surname suggests that societal biases may affect the likelihood of the letters being returned.

Researchers Dropped 100 Unsealed Envelopes Containing Money Around the Campus