2. Hasset et al. (2008) - done

Question 1

Psychology being investigated in Hassett et al.(3)

Answer 1

Sex differences –> both physical and behavioral differences
Difficult to determine the extent to which some behavioral differences between males and females are the product of biological differences due to sex or social differences in their experiences in ways in which society treats males and females –> socialization

Question 2

Socialisation meaning

Answer 2

the process of learning to behave in socially acceptable ways differ somewhat for the two genders in different cultures

Question 3

Why didn’t Hasset et al preform the experiment with children?

Answer 3

Unethical to deliberately expose developing human fetuses or children to hormones or to remove key factors from a child’s environment to control their experience

Question 4

Aim of Hasset et al’s study? (2)

Answer 4

to investigate whether toy preferences in monkeys resemble those in children –> to test whether sex differences in toy choice is biologically determined by sex.

Question 5

Research method and design of Hasset et al. (2)

Answer 5

field experiment –> controlled observation
experimental design –> independent measures

Question 6

IV of Hasset et al’s experiment

Answer 6

Sex

Question 7

Why was Hasset et al’s experiment independent measures comparison?

Answer 7

data from the monkeys were compared to similar data relating to children obtained from a different study

Question 8

Sample of Hasset et al (3)

Answer 8

21 male 61 rhesus monkeys
research station in the USA
135 - 14 adults were not studied as they had received hormone treatment / 39 were too young

Question 9

Procedure of Hasset et al’s experiment (4)

Answer 9

1. Seven 25 min trials were held
2. Before each observation, observers placed a pair of toys (1 wheeled, 1 plush) outside while the monkeys waited inside.
3. Toys were placed 10 metres apart and their positions were counterbalanced
4. wheeled toys (wagon, truck, car) – male toys, plush toys (Winnie the pooh, scooby doo etc) – female toys

Question 10

How was the data recorded in Hasset et al? (3)

Answer 10

observers: The start and finish time of each interaction, and from this they calculated the duration. The monkey’s age, sex, and rank.
Behavioural checklist included: extended touching, holding, sitting on, dragging, carrying, etc.
Examples of operationalised behaviours:
* Extended touch – Placing a hand or foot on the toy.
* Sit on – Seated on the toy or a part of the toy.

Question 11

Results of Hasset et al. (5)

Answer 11

1. Male monkeys played with wheeled toys for a longer time than female monkeys. , some males played for longer than others.
2. Female monkeys played with plush toys for a longer time than male monkeys.
3. There wasn’t a significant difference in time female monkeys spent playing with wheeled or plush toys.
4. 73% of males preferred wheeled toys and only 9% preferred plush toys. 18% showed no significant preference.
5. 73% of males preferred wheeled toys and only 9% preferred plush toys. 18% showed no significant preference. These preferences were not affected by age or rank. (female)

Question 12

Conclusion of Hasset et al.

Answer 12

Sex-typed preferences in humans may be due to biological differences because even without differences in socialisation, monkeys showed preferences similar to human infants.
Male monkeys similar to boys, have a strong preference for masculine-type toys. Whereas, female monkeys are more variable in their toy preferences.
Toy preferences reflect behavioural and cognitive biases which have been influenced by hormones.

Question 13

Strengths of Hasset et al’s experiment

Answer 13

1. Ethical guidelines on treating lab animals were followed by researchers when caring for the monkeys. They had constant access to water, they were fed monkey chow twice a day, and fruits and vegetables every day.
2. Using the operationalised behavioural checklist increased the validity and reliability of results, as it guided researchers on how to record observations in the same way. For example, the behaviour ‘sit on’ was described as sitting on or part of a toy. –> high inter rater reliablity
3. Different pairs of toys were used on each trial, and this increased the validity as we can determine that males were drawn to wheeled toys in general, and not just a specific wheeled toy.
4. Using video cameras increased the validity of the data recorded because the monkeys were used to the cameras. If a researcher recorded data in person instead, the monkeys might show demand characteristics by playing more or less with the toys.
5. Quantitative data collected on toy interaction duration allowed for the objective calculations of the average time the monkeys spent with the toys. This removes room for subjective interpretations.

Question 14

Weakness of Hasset et al

Answer 14

1. The standardised procedure was abandoned for a trial because a monkey tore a plush toy causing the trial to be stopped 7 minutes early. This reduces the reliability of results.
2. There is a chance observer bias may have increased subjectivity. The researchers who analysed the tapes were familiar with the monkeys and their gender and this could have led them to unintentionally code the behaviour of the monkeys differently to their actual behaviour.
3. There was a lack of adult males in the sample, hence reducing the generalisability of results.
4. Ecological validity is low because the sample consisted of monkeys in captivity, and they might be more likely to show interest in new objects in their environment. Therefore, we can’t entirely generalise results to explain if wild monkeys behave in the same way.
5. Validity is low because, in each trial, a group of monkeys were sent out. So if one monkey occupied the wheeled toy, another monkey wanting to play with a toy would go to the plush toy regardless of their personal preference.