The pen is mightier than the word

Object priming of evaluative standards

Bibliographic Data

ID10901186
AuthorsAbraham M Rutchick (0000-0003-3402-0934, California State University, Northridge, corresponding author), Michael L Slepian (0000-0002-4728-2178, Tufts University), Bennett D Ferris (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Year2010
Volume40
Issue5
Pages704-708
Publication date2010-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0046-2772 • E-ISSN: 1099-0992
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ejsp.753
OpenAlexW2130939100
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited15

Because red pens are closely associated with error‐marking and poor performance, the use of red pens when correcting student work can activate these concepts. People using red pens to complete a word‐stem task completed more words related to errors and poor performance than did people using black pens (Study 1), suggesting relatively greater accessibility of these concepts. Moreover, people using red pens to correct essays marked more errors (Study 2) and awarded lower grades (Study 3) than people using blue pens. Thus, despite teachers' efforts to free themselves from extraneous influences when grading, the very act of picking up a red pen can bias their evaluations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Cognitive psychology · Grading (engineering) · Linguistics · Object (grammar) · Priming (agriculture) · Word (group theory) · Color perception and design · Multisensory perception and integration · Psychology · Social Psychology · Visual perception and processing mechanisms

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