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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether age stereotyping could be identified among a population of 490 undergraduate students. We used the innovative methodology created by Levin (1988), with one significant difference: We used female stimulus figures to elicit subjects’ responses, in contrast to Levin's use of males. In his study, Levin found evidence that indicated a “strong and consistent” degree of age stereotyping among undergraduates. On the basis of the literature and Levin's findings, we hypothesized that our undergraduates would evaluate young and middle‐aged stimulus persons more positively than an older stimulus person. The data forced the rejection of this hypothesis, however. In fact, the subjects rated the older stimulus person more positively than either of the younger stimulus persons on 8 out of 17 attitude items. Possible explanations for this finding are provided.
