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Journal Article Summary
Social Psychology Article
Christopher Theriault
Department of Psychology, Liberty University
PSY 512: Social Psychology
Dr. Snyder
September 03, 2025
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Journal Article Summary
Social Psychology Article
Introduction
The article is about racial ingroup identification and attitudes toward paying college
athletes. It examines how people’s sense of belonging to their racial group influences their
support for athlete compensation.
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to investigate predictors of Black and White Americans’
attitudes toward paying college athletes, specifically examining the differences between
selfinvestment and self-definition in racial ingroup identification.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis of racial identification and athlete pay is that individuals who strongly
identify with their racial ingroup will be more likely to support compensation for college
athletes. The researchers aim to examine whether race and self-investment in one’s racial
ingroup interact to influence respondents’ support. Specifically, it is expected that Black
respondents will show higher levels of support than White respondents, with the racial gap in
support being minimal at low levels of self-investment but widening at high levels of
selfinvestment.
Methodology
Sample
For Study 1a, participants were recruited from Prolific, with separate recruitment of
Black and White respondents to ensure approximately equal sample sizes. After applying
preregistered exclusion criteria, the final sample included 352 participants, consisting of 168
women, 176 men, 7 nonbinary individuals, and 1 other, as well as 161 Black and 191 White
respondents. Each participant was compensated $3.17.
Study 1b was a close replication of Study 1a, using the same measures and procedures.
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The final sample consisted of 476 participants, including 241 female, 225 male, 8 nonbinary, and
2 other respondents, with 227 Black and 249 White participants. Each participant was also paid
$3.17.
Measures
Participants were asked two questions about issues in college sports. The first question,
a filler, asked whether it was appropriate to resume college football games during the COVID-19
pandemic. The second question focused on paying athletes and offered three options: support,
oppose, or be in the middle. Responses were further refined using a Likert scale, with scores
from 1–4 indicating little or no support and 5–7 indicating support.
Participants also answered demographic questions, including gender, race, and ethnicity.
They completed a 14-item measure of racial ingroup identification, which assessed
selfinvestment and self-definition. Finally, participants reported their political ideology on a 1–7
scale, with 1 representing extremely liberal and 7 representing extremely conservative.
Procedures
Participants began with a consent page, and the study’s purpose was described as
investigating how personality relates to opinions on social issues, especially in sports. In Study
1a, participants first completed a filler section on resuming college football during the
pandemic. All participants then completed the critical section describing and asking questions
about compensating college athletes. This was followed by cognition scale items and an
attention check. Finally, participants completed demographic questions and a racial ingroup
identification scale.
Results
Self-definition and self-investment were positively correlated, r(350) = .727, p < .001,
indicating a strong relationship between the two aspects of racial identification. Support for
compensating college athletes differed by racial ingroup: Black respondents generally supported
compensation more than White respondents. Importantly, self-investment moderated this
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effect: higher self-investment was associated with greater support among Black respondents
and lower support among White respondents, creating a wider gap in attitudes between the
two groups.
Practical Significance
This study shows that different racial ingroups can both support compensating college
athletes, but the reasons and intensity of that support differ depending on the level of
selfinvestment in one’s racial group. Understanding these differences can help predict how
strongly each ingroup will support or oppose policies that benefit their racial ingroup, providing
more nuanced insights into public opinion and policy attitudes.
Critique
The strength of this study was its large and diverse sample, which increases the accuracy
and reliability of the findings. Additionally, the study builds on two closely related studies, which
helps replicate and confirm the results. A weakness is that the study was limited to participants
from the United States, so the findings may not generalize to other countries or cultural
contexts. Conducting a more international study could provide a broader understanding of
these ingroups.
Personal Application
I learned that different communities show support in different ways, which reflects their
sense of belonging and investment in their group. This study reminds me to be honest and fair
in my own evaluations and work. “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length,
weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I
am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt” (New International Version, 2011/1978,
Leviticus 19:35-36). By being truthful and accurate in my studies, I honor integrity and avoid
errors or misrepresentations, just as the Scripture teaches.
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References
Sargent, M. J. (2022, January 13). Skin in the Game: Race, Ingroup Identification, and Attitudes
Toward Paying College Athletes. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.
Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000520
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978)
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