hasset et al. (monkey toy prefferences)

Question 1

what was the aim of the study?

Answer 1

• To investigate whether sex-typed toy preferences — commonly observed in human children — are also present in non-human primates (rhesus monkeys)
• to explore whether these preferences are influenced by biological or social factors (nature vs nurture)

Question 2

what prompted the research? (background)

Answer 2

• Human children often show clear gender-based toy preferences:
  👦 Boys prefer vehicles and action-type toys.
  👧 Girls prefer dolls and nurturing-type toys.
• This study aimed to explore whether such preferences are biologically rooted or purely shaped by socialization

Question 3

what research method and experimental design were used?

Answer 3

research method: field experiment
experimental design: repeated measures design (all monkeys were exposed to both types of toys)

Question 4

what were the IV and the DV?

Answer 4

IV: type of toy (M-typical vs F- typical)
DV: amount of time spent interacting with each toy

Question 5

describe the sample

Answer 5

• 34 rhesus monkeys - 22 males and 12 females
• raised at the Yerkes National Primate Rsearch Centre, U.S.

Question 7

requirements for the monkeys

Answer 7

• couldn’t have undergone any previous hormonal treatment
• no prior toy exposure
• good physical condition = healthy