Determining Stereotypical Images Of Psychologists: The Draw A Psychologist Checklist - Statistical Data Included

The data was analyzed by tabulating the number of responses for the pretest and for the posttest for each of the categories and their attributes using the checklist. A checklist was completed on each pretest and posttest. The checklists wore then grouped its either pretest or posttest for analysis. Analysis was done using Epistat to generate frequencies, percentages and chi square for each attribute of the pre and post tests.

Results

Pretest and posttest frequencies, percentages, and Chi-Square for psychologist's stereotypes appear in Table 1. For Psychologists' stereotypes, four attributes were found to be significant. There were fewer drawings on the posttest that showed a psychologist as a male, sitting or having their legs crossed, bald or balding and represented in less nontraditional images such as teachers, researchers or test administrators. Out of 15 stereotype elements, only four were less prevalent in the posttest drawings. While not significant, there was a decrease in stereotype elements in the drawings from the pretest to the posttest in eyeglasses, coffee cups, notes, asking questions, listening, evidence of Freud, unruly hair, positive facial expressions, thinking/insight indicated, and pencil in the pocket. The only non significant increase from the pretest to the posttest was in the attribute of the psychologist wearing a lab coat. When the attributes were rank ordered from the pretest, the following top six attributes were: (1) notes, (2) listening to client, (3.5) eyeglasses and positive facial expression, (5) male, and (6) other roles (non-traditional). Similar findings were found on the posttest. In fact, the same attributes were found in the top six rankings but with the attributes rearranged. The posttest attribute rankings were: (1.5) notes and positive facial expression, (3) listening to the client, (4) eyeglasses, (5)other roles (non-traditional), and (6) male. So, there is a stereotyped image of "psychologist" that endures.

Table 1

Pretest and Posttest Frequencies, percentages, and Chi-Square for Psychologist Stereotypes

                             Pretest (n=101)     Posttest (n=81)
Stereotypes                   n       %           n        %

Male                          25    24.8          7         8.6
Eyeglasses                    30    29.7          14       17.3
Coffee cup                     6     5.9          1         1.2
Notes                         40    39.6          23       28.4
Ask questions                 15    14.9          10       12.3
Listening to client           35    34.7          21       25.9
Sitting / legs crossed        20    19.5          2         2.5
Evidence of Freud              2     2.0          1         1.2
Unruly hair                    2     2.0          --       --
Positive facial expression    30    29.7          23       28.4
Bald / balding                11    10.9          1         1.2
Lab coat                       2     2.0          4         4.9
Thinking/insight illustrated   9     8.9          3         9.9
Pencils in pocket              3     3.0          2         2.5
Non-traditional (teacher)     24    23.8          9        11.1

Stereotypes                   [x.sup.2]     P

Male                            6.98      .008
Eyeglasses                      3.13      .077
Coffee cup                      1.57      .210
Notes                           2.03      .155
Ask questions                    .07      .786
Listening to client             1.22      .269
Sitting / legs crossed         11.13      .001
Evidence of Freud                .04      .847
Unruly hair                      .31      .577
Positive facial expression       .006     .977
Bald / balding                  5.33      .021
Lab coat                         .408     .488
Thinking/insight illustrated     .00      .973
Pencils in pocket                .06      .802
Non-traditional (teacher)      4.03       .045