According to sociological conventional wisdom, contact of the right kind in the right setting reduces stereotyping. Some research supports this hypothesis, some does not, and most can be challenged because the hypothesis conditions were not clearly met. This study attempted to meet the necessary conditions by using an unusually suitable setting,…

Earlier research has shown that young adults exhibit less favorable reactions to older speakers than to peers, especially on the competence dimension. To examine the role of speaker effectiveness in modifying evaluations of younger and older adults, undergraduates (N=80) received a map of a hospital floor plan and listened to either an effective…