Zeitschrift fur Erziehungswissenschaft
Volume 21, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 177-197

Stereotype priming as a cause of lower vocabulary growth in primary school students with immigrant background [Stereotypenbedrohung als Ursache für geringeren Wortschatzzuwachs bei Grundschulkindern mit Migrationshintergrund] (Article)

Sander A.* , Ohle A. , McElvany N. , Zander L. , Hannover B.
  • a Institut für Schulentwicklungsforschung, TU Dortmund, Vogelpothsweg 78, Dortmund, 44227, Germany
  • b Institut für Schulentwicklungsforschung, TU Dortmund, Vogelpothsweg 78, Dortmund, 44227, Germany
  • c Institut für Schulentwicklungsforschung, TU Dortmund, Vogelpothsweg 78, Dortmund, 44227, Germany
  • d Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, Berlin, 14195, Germany
  • e Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, Berlin, 14195, Germany

Abstract

Students with a home language other than German face challenges in the acquisition of German language competence in school. We investigate stereotype priming as one potential cause for lower vocabulary growth. A sample of 4th graders (N = 118) with a home language other than German from 18 elementary school classes participated in the experimental study. Students were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: After having been exposed to either explicit, implicit and no stereotype priming, the children were supposed to learn difficult new words. Confirming our expectations, compared to the control group condition vocabulary growth was inhibited in the priming conditions, and particularly strongly in the explicit stereotype priming condition. Supplementing other studies, we could show that students in learning situations revealed lower vocabulary growth when their belonging to the group of students with “a home language other than German” was emphasized. Unexpectedly, the effect of the treatment was not moderated by children’s ethnical identification as German or member of their culture of origin. Implications for education of students with immigrant background are discussed. © 2017, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.

Author Keywords

Stereotype priming Vocabulary acquisition Non-German family language Immigrant background

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042384956&doi=10.1007%2fs11618-017-0763-1&partnerID=40&md5=3c21744b6716cd934910e0a4ff1e3183
DOI: 10.1007/s11618-017-0763-1
ISSN: 1434663X
Cited by: 2
Original Language: German