Hassett et al -sex difference in monkey toy preference Flashcards
what is the aim of the study
(Hassett et al)
1) to investigate sex differences in toy preferences of rhesus monkeys (macaca mulatta)
2) to compare the sex differences in toy preferences in monkey to humans
3) to see if the socialization process or biological mechanisms affect sex stereotypical toy choice
what was the method
(Hassett et al )
field experiment because it took place in the monkeys normal outdoor housing
observation
through video cameras and structured observation through the use of a behavioral checklist
why was a correlation used ?
(Hassett et al)
a correlation was used to test the relationship between monkey toy preference and those of human children
what was the iv
(Hassett et al)
Sex of the monkey - male or female
what was the dv
(Hassett et al)
toy preference
what was the sample Hassett
21 male and 61 females rhesus monkeys living in natal birth groups as part of a wider group of 135 monkeys at the yerkes primate research station in the usa
why were some of the monkeys not studied Hassett
14 adults were not studied because they received hormone treatments
39 young infants were excluded because they could not be reliably identified
what was the experimental design Hassett
independent measures
because the monkeys were either in the male or female condition
how were the toys categorised Hassett
they were categorised in two groups based on their properties as objects rather than the gender type
describe the monkeys housing Hassett
they were housed in a 25 by 25 metre outdoor area with access to a temperature controlled indoor environment
what method was used to collect data Hassett
observations
what type of sampling was it Hassett
opportunity sampling was used , the researchers use monkeys that are in the Yerkes Research station that are available
how was the dv operationalised
(measured) hassett
it was operationalised by
a)timing how long the monkeys interacted with the toys either plush or wheeled
b) by counting the frequency of the behaviour categories in the checklist.
list the 4 out of the 7 plush toys Hassett
-winnie the pooh
-raggedy ann
-the turtle
-a teddy bear
-scooby doo
-an armadillo
-a koala bear hand puppet
the toys varied in color and shape
list the 4 out of the 6 wheeled toys Hassett
- a truck
- a car
- a shopping cart
- -a wagon
- -a construction vehicle
- -a dump truck
list 5 behaviours of the monkeys and the description of the behaviour Hassett
extended touch - placing a hand or foot on the toy
sit on - seated on the toy or part of the toy
carry in arm - moving with toy in arm and off the ground
destroy - using mouth or hands to bite or tear toy
throw - project into air with hands
what were the materials used to obtain data Hassett
video cameras
describe results in the study related to females only Hasset
-females preferred plush toys than wheeled toys but the preference was not** significant**.
- rank was correlated positively with the duration of interaction for the plush toy and not the wheeled toy
describe results in the study related to males only Hassett
males SIGNIFICANTLY preferred wheeled toys compared to plush toys
males duration of interaction was significantly longer with wheeled toys compared to plush toys.
describe two results in the study related to females only must contain numerical data
Hassett
-the percentage of females who preferred wheeled toys was 39
- plush toys was 30
- the mean duration of interaction in minutes with ;
- plush toys - 1.49
-wheeled toys - 1.27
mean frequency of interaction ;
plushed toys = 7.97
wheeled toys = 6.96
name the primary sex hormone for men and women and give a brief explanation as what they do
-
describe two results in the study related to males only must include numerical data Hassett
the percentage of males preferring wheeled toys was 73
- the percentage preferring plush toys 9
- the mean frequency of interaction with;
- plush toys = 2.06 in males
- wheeled toys= 9.77
mean duration of intercation with ;
plush toys = 0.53
wheeled toys = 4.76
explain how average frequency was calculated in the study Hassett
average frequency was calculated by dividing the number of raw frequencies by number of trials
avg freq = raw frequency ÷ no. of trials
explain how average duration was calculated Hassett
average duration was calculated by dividing total duration by number of trails
avg duration = total duration ÷ no. of trials
describe the psychology investigated in hassett et al
sex differences - There is a difference in male and female brain structure and hormones,, resulting in sex differences.
Socialization - this is the process of learning to behave in socially acceptable ways .These behaviours differ between the two genders.
Play- behaviour done for the purpose of fun rather than any useful purpose typically observed in childhood , can be solitory or social , may involve interaction with an obkect (toy)
Gender stereotype- bias of assigning particular traits to a particular gender, for example- assigning aggression as a male-typed trait.
strengths Hassett et al
- high in reliability , because of standardisation measures e.g standard duration of exposure of 25 min each trial , standard toys
- high in ecological validity because it was a field experiment
- ethics , the study did not break any ethical guidelines
weaknesses Hassett et al
-low generalisability , the study used macaca mulatta species of monkeys this means that the data obtained from the this species of monkey may not generalise to other species of monkeys
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.
individual vs situational debate Hassett et al
- one of the plush toys was torn apart 7 minutes into the trial this is a reflection of individual differences in behaviour
social rank affected toy preference in female monkeys this shows that rank altered the female monkeys behaviour.
nature vs nurture Hassett et al
nature , the monkeys in the study were not socialised to prefer wheeled or plushed toys but they still showed preferences like the human child this shows that biological factors e.g hormones are the reason for differences in toy preference between males and females
how was counterbalancing used Hassett
wheeled and plush toys were counterbalanced between the right and left placement locations in each trial. to minimize order effect
how were individual differences minimized
Hassett
by standardisation measures , they all used the same toys , the same behaviour categories were being observed , same outdoor are with standard measurements 25 by 25
What was the procedure in the study by hassett
Seven 25-minute trials were completed in the outdoor enclosure, each with a different pair of toys. Before each observation, observers placed a pair of toys (1 wheeled, 1 plush) outside while the monkeys waited inside. Toys were placed 10 metres apart and their positions were counterbalanced (to ensure the monkeys didn’t prefer a certain area of the enclosure).
In the study by Alexander and Hines on vervet monkeys , the toys were presented separately to the monkeys in the study.
What are two ways in which the study by Hassett is different to the above study [4mks]
the study by Alexander and Hines used Vervet monkeys while the study by Hassett used Rhesus monkeys
In hassett study the toys were presented simultaneously and in the study by Alexander the toys were presented separately
Why did one trial end 7 minutes early?
in the study by hassett
because the monkey tore the plush toy into several pieces
Describe how the monkeys in Hassett et al were maintained in the Yerkes primate …
-Consistent access to water
-They were feed monkey chow twice a day
-They were provided with fruits and vegetables once a day
-The study was approved by Emory’s institutional animal care and use committee
Why is the study by Hassett from the biological approach
An assumption of the approach is that behaviour , emotions and cognitions can be explained in terms of the working of the brain and the effect of hormones , genetics and evolution.
Hassett proposed that sex differences in toy play were a result of differences in the prenatal hormonal environments of males and females. in monkeys , these are strictly biological.
Describe the correlation that was conducted as part of the Hassett et al study. [1]
Rs looked to see whether there was a correlation between rank within the social hierarchy and the frequency or duration of activities with each toy type
