"Prematurity Stereotype" in a Sample of Dutch Mothers: Do Researchers Suffer from a "Prejudiced Parent Stereotype"?

This paper reports a Dutch replication of North American research on the ‘prematurity stereotype’ among mothers. In a rating task, infants labeled as ‘premature’ were given less favorable scores on a number of dimensions. A questionnaire study also showed negative expectations concerning premature infants. Associations with the mothers' number of children and level of education were found. Methodological problems of this type of research are discussed. To a large extent, the effects found can be ascribed to the ‘demand characteristics’ of the experiment and the normal effects of expectations on perception. It is argued that researchers should not automatically label such behavior as ‘stereotyping’: There must also be evidence of a failure to adapt expectations in the face of conflicting evidence. Recommendations are made concerning future research in this area, and the importance of providing clear and complete information for the public on the effects of prematurity is stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]