AICE PSYCHOLOGY: Hassett et al.
Outline the debate over toy preference.
View 1 - Socialization processes primarily shape toy preference. View 2 - Biological factors determine toy preference. View 3 - Hormones are the source of differences. (Girls with CAH show masculine toy preference, when encouraged to play with female toys, they reject and continue play with traditionally male toys.)
Describe the apparatus of Hassett et al.
Wheeled (masc) toys: Car, wagon, dump truck, shopping cart, construction vehicle Plush (fem) toys: Turtle, armadillo, teddy bear, koala puppet, Scooby-Doo, Raggedy-Ann, Winnie-the-Pooh Palm pilots equipped with app "Handobs" Video cameras
Explain the controls of Hassett et al.
All monkeys went through seven 25-minute trials at the research center One wheeled and one plush toy were positioned 10m apart, positions were counterbalanced across trials All trials were recorded and watched by two independent observers
Describe the data analysis of Hassett et al.
All specific behaviors were counted to provide frequencies of occurrence For continuous behaviors, onsets/offsets were recorded to derive durations Subjects with fewer than 5 behaviors were discounted. (3 males, 14 females) Leaves the final total of 23 females and 11 males.
Provide several behaviors from the behavioral checklist of Hassett et al.
Extended touch Hold Sit on Carry in hand Carry in arm Carry in mouth Drag Manipulate part Turn entire toy Touch Sniff Mouth Destroy Jump away Throw
Explain the prior research of Hassett et al.
In 2002, Alexander and Hines did a study with vervet monkeys. - Proportion of males toy interactions with masculine toys was greater than the proportion of females interactions with masculine toys. (Males interacted with masculine toys more than females) - Authors suggested that the preference for masculine toys implied boys preferences for masculine toys reflected stronger gendered socialization of boys toy preference relative to girls. - In the Alexander/Hines study, the monkeys were not presented with actual choices, findings limited to cross-sex willingness to play with any toy.
Describe the experimental design of Hassett et al.
Independent measures since two groups of monkeys were compared: Males, females
State the type of experiment and research method of Hasset et al.
Laboratory experiment Observations Controlled Non-participant Covert Structured (Time/event sampling)
Describe the type of data collected in Hassett et al.
Quantitative Calculated average frequencies and durations for each behavior
Describe the procedure of Hassett et al.
Seven 25-minute trials were conducted in the large indoor/outdoor enclosure Prior to the trial, subjects were moved indoors while one wheeled and one plush toy 10m apart were placed in the outdoor living area. Positions were counterbalanced across trials. Monkeys were then released into the outdoor area, and each toy and any animal interacting with it was videotaped using separate cameras. After each trial, toys were removed from the outdoor area. Identities of the animals interacting with the toys and specific behaviors were coded by two independent observers working together to achieve consensus on identity and behavior. One trial was ended 7 minutes early, as a plush toy was torn into multiple pieces.
Outline the conclusion of Hassett et al.
Toy preference in rhesus monkeys seems to reflect behavioral/cognitive biases influenced by hormones, which are affected by social pressure to form observable sex differences From Hassett et al.: "...hormonally organized preferences for specific activities that shape preference for toys that facilitate these activities." - AKA, they prefer whichever toy they can play with in their desired way. (Males play more aggressively, making them prefer masculine wheeled toys, while females can play passively with either masculine wheeled or feminine plush toys, giving them no particular preference.)
State the DV's of Hassett et al.
Whether or not the monkeys interacted with the toys Social rank Age
State the aims of the study Hassett et al.
- Investigate the sex differences in toy preferences of rhesus monkeys - See if socialization processes or biological mechanisms affect sex stereotypical toy choice. - See if there are sex differences in toy choice of rhesus monkeys compared to human children
Outline the results of Hassett et al.
Males significantly preferred the wheeled toys compared to plush toys Females showed no significant preference for plush toys over the wheeled toys Males/females showed no significant difference in frequency of interactions of wheeled toys compared to plush toys Males showed significantly lower frequencies of play with plush toys compared to females Males duration of interaction was significantly longer with wheeled toys than plush toys Females duration of interaction was not significantly different between wheeled and plush toys Males had a significantly higher duration AND frequency "magnitude of preference" score compared to the females There were rank differences between females only. Rank significantly positively correlated with frequency of interaction for both types of toys. (Females with no preference were lower ranked than females with a plushy preference) No age differences according to preferences in females Results very similar to those in human children MALES: 73% Preferred wheeled toys 9% Preferred plush toys 18% Had no preference FEMALES: 30% Preferred wheeled toys 39% Preferred plush toys 30% Had no preference
State the IV's of Hassett et al.
Monkeys genders (Male, female)
Identify the sample and sampling technique of Hasset et al.
Opportunity sampling 135 monkeys from the National Primate Research Center Field Station (Atlanta, Georgia) 14 were on hormonal treatments and not included 39 infants were not included *61 FEMALES AND 21 MALES. Housed in 25mx25m outdoor compounds with temperature controlled indoor quarters Water was continuously available Fed monkey chow twice daily; supplemented once per day with fruits and vegetables.
