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Hassett et al. (2008) Study - Coggle Diagram
Hassett et al. (2008) Study
Aim
Investigate whether monkeys exhibit sex differences in toy preferences, similar to human children, as a potential indicator of biological influences on gendered behaviour.
Background
• Previous research shows human children have gender-specific toy preferences.
• Interest in whether these preferences are driven by biology or learned through socialisation.
• Gender development and biological influences on behaviour.
• Connection between biology (hormones, genetics) and preferences in primates.
Research Method
Research Method ➜ Field experiment involving a controlled observation, and a correlational study using a behavioural checklist.
Research Design ➜ Independent measures design.
Independent Variable ➜ The sex of the monkey (male or female).
Dependent Variable ➜ Whether the monkeys interacted more with the plush toys or the wheeled toys.
Sample: Monkeys presented with stereotypically "masculine" (wheeled toys) and "feminine" (plush toys) objects.
135 monkeys were from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center Field Station, but 53 were excluded, hence only 82 took part ➜ 61 females and 21 males.
There were infant and adult monkeys
Nature vs Nurture
• Nature: Focus on inherent biological differences in preferences (linked to hormones).
• Nurture: Examining whether preferences develop without human socialisation.
Conclusions
Similar toy preferences in monkeys and humans suggest possible biological underpinnings.
Reinforces the idea that some gendered behaviour may not be solely due to socialisation.
Results
Male monkeys showed a preference for wheeled toys.
Female monkeys spent more time with plush toys, but also played with wheeled toys.
Higher-ranking monkeys interacted more with the toys.
Female monkeys who preferred plush toys had a higher rank than those who had no preference.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Weaknesses
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.
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.
There was a lack of adult males in the sample, hence reducing the generalisability of results. The only one high-ranking male didn’t interact with any toys, hence, findings can only be generalised to lower-ranking, non-adult male monkeys.
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.
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.