The Own-race bias Effect: Effects of Happy Facial Expressions during Face Recognition

Running Head: EFFECT OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS ON OWN RACE BIAS




The Own-race bias Effect: Effects of Happy Facial Expressions during Face Recognition

Seeret Kaur Lonj

James Cook University

, EFFECTS OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS ON OWN RACE BIAS 2


Abstract

The experiment aimed to replicate the own-race bias (ORB)effect. Undergraduates from

James Cook University participated in a computer-based activity task where they had first to

study, and then attempt to recognize East-Asian or Caucasian faces. The effect facial

expressions had on recognition ability was tested as the East-Asian, and Caucasian faces had

either neutral or happy expressions. Signal Detection Theory (SDT) was used to analyse

discrimination accuracy (d’). Research done to come up with the hypotheses for the study

were not consistent with the results: Singaporean participants were observed to have

recognised Caucasian faces better, more specifically, Caucasian faces with a neutral

expression. The ORB was found not found to be significant among Singaporean participants.

Keywords: own-race bias, East-Asian, Caucasian, happy, neutral