A posttest-only control group design procedure was used with a semantic
differential questionnaire to examine the persistence of changes in racial
attitudes induced via a required training course for supervisors at a large
military installation. Overall, a general, but small, positive change in
attitude was observed immediately following the course. This attitude
change subsequently decayed over a twelve- to thirteen-week period.
Surprisingly, a "sleeper effect" seemed to emerge four to five weeks after
the training session, resulting in significant, but short-term, positive
attitude changes. The sleeper effect emerged in the absence of previously
postulated conditions for its occurrence, such as close interaction of
participants and reward systems to encourage behavior consistent with
the changed attitudes.
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