Are all Newcomers Judged Similarly?

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of newcomerstatus and racial status on evaluations of target persons in task groups. Both the race and time of entry into the group were systematically variedfora targetperson in same-sex task-oriented groups. AfricanAmerican newcomers were judged as nmre open minded and their contributions were deemed as more useful than were those provided by other African Americans who were present at the outset and by Whites present as newcomers and old-timers. Moreover; time of entry mattered most for ratings of the African American target person. The implications of these findings for long-tern task group arrangements are discussed.