Ethnic Stereotypes and Underachievement of UK Medical Students
Author Information
Author(s): Katherine Woolf, Judith Cave, Trisha Greenhalgh, Jane Dacre
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
Might stereotype threat explain the underachievement of UK medical students from ethnic minorities?
Conclusion
Asian clinical medical students may be more likely than white students to be perceived stereotypically and negatively, which may reduce their learning by jeopardising their relationships with teachers.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants believed the student-teacher relationship was vital for clinical learning.
- Teachers had strong perceptions about 'good' clinical students and described being aggressive towards those perceived as unmotivated.
- Students had strong perceptions about 'good' clinical teachers, emphasizing the importance of encouragement and interaction.
Takeaway
Some teachers think Asian medical students are quiet and rely too much on books, which can make it harder for them to learn and succeed.
Methodology
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
Potential Biases
The low participation rate in focus groups and the relatively low numbers of non-white clinical teachers may have introduced systematic bias.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data and may have biases due to the demographics of the interviewer and participants.
Participant Demographics
27 year 3 medical students and 25 clinical teachers, purposively sampled for ethnicity and sex.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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