Hassett et al Flashcards
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)?
CAH is a condition characterized by higher prenatal exposure to androgens, which are male sex hormones
Studying monkeys’ toy preferences is valuable to the nature/nurture debate because monkeys:
a) Socialize with specific toys
b) Are not influenced by hormones
c) Are easily trained to play with certain toys
d) Are not socialized to play with specific toys
d) Are not socialized to play with specific toys.
The reduced influence of ‘nurture’, i.e., monkeys are not taught to play with certain toys on the basis of their sex, suggesting that toy preferences in humans may be biologically influenced
Define ‘play’ in the broader sense, highlighting its potential adaptive function.
Play is a voluntary behavior observed in animals and humans, allowing self-expression and potentially serving an adaptive function by enabling individuals to practice skills required for adulthood.
TRUE OR FALSE
According to Hassett et al., hormonal differences play a significant role in shaping toy preferences, irrespective of societal expectations.
true
The primary aim of the study by Hasset et al. is:
a) To examine the impact of socialization on toy preferences in children.
b) To investigate differences in children’s toy preferences and their correlation with socialization.
c) To determine whether biological factors, particularly prenatal hormone exposure, contribute to differences in children’s toy preferences.
d) To explore the influence of cultural factors on the toy preferences of boys and girls.
c) To determine whether biological factors, particularly prenatal hormone exposure, contribute to disparities in children’s toy preferences.
Describe how data was collected in the study by Hassett et al.
A structured observation was used, with a list of specific behaviours researchers wanted to observe. Two observers coded the sample’s behaviours, through the use of a video camera which recorded the monkeys’ interaction with the toys.
Hassett et al. employed an ____________ design where two groups of monkeys (male and female) were exposed to different toys and results were compared.
Independent measures
TRUE OR FALSE
Researchers conducted a lab experiment to investigate the causal relationship between sex and toy preferences in rhesus monkeys.
FALSE
Researchers conducted a field experiment in the monkeys’ long-term research centre enclosure. Since the monkeys had been living there for 25 years, hence, the research centre became a natural environment for them, which makes the study a field experiment.
What was the dependent variable (DV) in the study, and how was it measured?
The dependent variable was toy preferences, measured by assessing whether the monkeys interacted more with plush toys or wheeled toys
The researchers controlled the environment during the study:
a) Allowing the monkeys to roam freely outdoors.
b) Counterbalancing the placement of toys and controlling for social rank and age.
c) Placing toys indoors and keeping the monkeys in a controlled setting.
d) Using video cameras to record and observe monkey interactions with the toys.
b) Counterbalancing the placement of toys and controlling for social rank and age.
_________________ reduced the possibility that the monkeys’ preferences were influenced by the location of the toys rather than the characteristics of the toys themselves.
counterbalancing
During the study, observers utilized a behavioral checklist to code various interactions. Which of the following behaviours were not included on the checklist?
a) Dragging
b) Mouthing
c) Shaking
d) Jumping away
c) Shaking.
The behaviours on the checklist include:
Extended touching, holding, sitting on, dragging, carrying, and manipulating, along with other behaviors like briefly touching, sniffing, mouthing, destroying, jumping away from, and throwing the toys.
TRUE OR FALSE
The study found no correlation between monkeys’ social rank and their interaction with toys; social rank had no impact on their engagement with plush and wheeled toys.
FALSE
The study actually found a meaningful correlation, indicating that higher-ranking monkeys engaged more frequently with both plush and wheeled toys.
TRUE OR FALSE
Hassett et al. concluded that sex-typed toy preferences in humans are solely influenced by biological sex differences.
FALSE
The study suggested that these preferences are influenced by a combination of biological factors and environmental learning within the social context.
The study implied that toy preferences in both humans and monkeys primarily reflect:
a) Socially influenced behavioral and cognitive biases.
b) Hormonally influenced behavioral and cognitive biases.
c) Exclusively cognitive biases.
d) Unspecified factors influencing biases.
b) Hormonally influenced behavioral and cognitive biases.
The study suggested that clear gender differences in socialization were:
a) Not evident in the monkey troop.
b) Evident in the monkey troop.
c) Partially evident in the monkey troop.
d) Uncertain in the monkey troop.
a) Not evident in the monkey troop.
The use of video cameras instead of human observers increases ___________ by reducing ___________ and potential alterations in monkey behavior due to human presence.
a) reliability, ecological validy
b) potential, human intervention
c) validity, demand characteristics
d) demand characteristics, human error
c) validity, demand characteristics
TRUE OR FALSE
While the procedure aimed to minimize stress, the assessment of stress levels in captive monkeys was not explicitly addressed, leaving potential ethical considerations unexplored.
TRUE
The study did not explicitly address stress assessment in captive monkeys, leaving potential ethical considerations unexplored.
What ethical concern arises from the study’s use of monkeys living in captivity?
While the procedure aimed to minimise stress, the assessment of stress levels in captive monkeys was not explicitly addressed.
Acknowledging that hormone levels change over time due to various biological and social factors emphasizes:
a) That children’s toy preferences are none of your concern, and you’d rather adopt cats and give them all the toys they need.
b) That children’s toy preferences must always be according to their gender.
c) That children’s toy preferences are fluid, and gender is a social construct, and the market just capitalizes on it.
d) That hormone levels in children must be taken into consideration when choosing toys.
c) That children’s toy preferences are fluid, and gender is a social construct, and the market just capitalizes on it.
