Practical Flashcards
What was the aim of our practical?
To investigate whether there is a positive correlation between masculinity score (/40) and aggression score (/145) as measured from self-report questionnaires.
What are the variables of our practical?
There is no IV or DV due to correlational data.
Co-variables = Masculinity score (/40), aggression scare (/145)
Controls = Same questionnaires for each ppt
State the fully operationalised alternative hypothesis.
There will be a significant positive relationship between masculinity score (/40) and aggression score (/145).
State the fully operationalised null hypothesis.
There will not be a significant positive relationship between masculinity score (/40) and aggression (/145) , any relationship will be due to chance.
What sample did we use in our practical?
- 16 ppts
- 16-17 year old males and females
- King Edward VI College in Stourbridge
- Taking Psychology
What sampling method did we use in our practical?
Opportunity
What was the method used in our practical?
- 2 self-report questionnaires on masculinity and aggression
Briefly describe the procedure of our practical.
- An opportunity sample of 16, 16-17 year old King Edward VI College students took part in 2 questionnaires
- The questionnaire about masculinity used a 5-point Likert scale for 24 questions leading to an overall score out of 40 and had one reversed scoring with only 8/24 relevant questions
- The questionnaire about aggression also used a 5-point Likert scale for 29 questions leading to an overall score out of 145 and had 2 reversed scoring
- Ppts were told to complete the questionnaires on their own and in their own time
What were the results of our practical?
- Mean score of aggression was 78.8
- Mean score of masculinity was 26.5
- Range of aggression scores was 64
- Range of masculinity scores was 20
Describe the analysis of our results.
- Used a Spearman’s Rho Rank Test with a calculated value of 0.26 between the two co-variables of aggression and masculinity scores
- The data was not a significant positive correlation due to not exceeding the critical value of 0.34 at p<0.05 with a one-tailed hypothesis
What can we conclude from our results?
There is no positive correlation between masculinity and aggression and therefore we accept our null hypothesis and also disagree with Kalat (1998)’s research in which he found that 15-25 yr old men with high levels of testosterone commit more violent crimes with their testosterone levels being associated with masculinity.
Evaluate the generalisablity using a low point.
P - Low
E - Small sample consisted of 16 ppts aged 16-17 from Stourbridge taking A level Psychology
E - Can’t generalise to adults or anyone not from Stourbridge or not taking Psychology
Evaluate reliability using 2 high points.
P - High
E - Data was gathered through closed questions using the 5-point Likert scale agreeing on statements such as “very passive” and “if somebody hits me, I hit back”
E - The quant data makes it easier to be replicated and tested for consistency and also increases objectivity
P - High
E - Standardised procedure with same aggression and masculinity questions for each ppt such as such as “never cries” and “I have threatened people I know”
E - Easy to replicate
Are there any applications?
P - Yes
E - Found that there is no positive correlation between aggression and masculinity
E - And so we can therefore focus on finding other reasons that may cause aggression
Evaluate validity using 2 low points.
P - Low
E - Due to testing masculinity and aggression by operationalising their behaviours into questions that are unrepresentative such as “gives up easily” for low masculinity which is a stereotype and may be characteristic for someone who is deemed masculine anyway
E - Therefore measures may not be truly measuring how masculine/aggressive someone is
P - Low
E - Self-report data from ppts as they filled in questionnaires on their own in their own time
E - This may lead to social desirability rendering the results less valid
