Some differential effects of race of rater and ratee on early peer ratings of combat aptitude

Abstract

Peer ratings of combat potential made by 669 Caucasian and Negro army recruits of the squad members were examined. The hypothesis that ratees would receive higher ratings from members of their own race than from members of another race was supported (p < .05) for all ratee samples. The hypothesis that raters would give higher ratings to men of their own race than to men of another race was supported for Negro raters but not for Caucasian raters. The obtained significant differences appeared basically a reflection of higher ratings received by Negroes from Negroes. For practical purposes the effect on the recruit's average rating score was negligible because of the preponderance of Caucasian raters within squads exhibiting no rating preferences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)