Attitude Tested: Would the mere mention of affirmative action affect how whites answered questions about blacks?
How They Tested It: Half the respondents are asked their opinion about affirmative action, and then asked to characterize what most blacks are like. The other half is asked the same questions in the reverse order.
Result: Whites who have just been asked to give an opinion about affirmative action are significantly more likely to describe "most blacks" as "lazy" and "irresponsible" than are whites to whom affirmative action has not yet been mentioned.
