The Effect of Birth Order on Students Choice of Major Shoko Nakatsuji Hanover College

Birth Order Theory w Sulloway (1996) claims that birth order does have an effect. w Sulloway suggests that children in the same family do not turn out alike because they are competing for parental attention.

Empirical Research on Birth Order w Herrera et al. (2003) find that people believe that birth order affects personality. First-born: intelligent, responsible, obedient Later-born: creative, irresponsible, emotional

Empirical Research on Birth Order w Herrera et al. (2003) find that people believe that those with higher birth ranks attain higher occupational prestige. w Herrera et al. (2003) find that those with higher birth ranks do complete more years of school and do have more prestigious occupations.

Empirical Research on Birth Order w Clark and Rice (1982) found that eminent scientists were earlier born than eminent non- scientists.

Hypothesis w First born children will be more likely than later born children to select science and math- related majors.

Birth Order Questionnaire w Number of siblings w Ages of siblings w Types of siblings (biological sibling, adopted- sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, twin/multiple) w Gender of siblings w Socioeconomic status

Data Collection w Mass survey w Individual class surveys

Participants w Total number of participants: 179 w Male: 65 Female: 114 w Mean age: w Year in school: Freshman (36.9%) Sophomore (29.1%) Junior (17.9%) Senior (16.2%)

Birth Order w Only children (6.1%) w First-borns (50.8%) w Second-borns (36.3%) w Third-borns (6.1%) w Fourth-borns (0.6%)

Science/Math Major Participants w Biology w Business w Chemistry w Computer Science w Economics w Engineering w Geology w Mathematics w Physics w Pre-medicine Percent science/math majors = 41.3%

Data Analysis w Birth order as a continuous variable w r =.06, p =.45

Data Analysis w Birth order as a categorical variable w 2 =.07, p =.80 First Born or Only Child Later Born Science/Math58.1%41.9% Non- Science/Math 56.2%43.8%

Data Analysis w Birth order effect was strongest for sophomores: r =.25, p =.08.

Discussion w Harris (1998): in recent studies, birth order effects are not found or are found to be negligible.

References Clark, R.D. & Rice, G.A. (1982). Family constellation and eminence: The birth orders of Nobel Prize winners. Journal of Psychology, 110, Harris, J.R. (1998). The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do. New York: Free Press. Herrera, N.C., Zajonc, R.B., Wieczokowska, G., & Cichomski, B. (2003). Beliefs about birth rank and their reflection in reality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, Sulloway, F.J. (1996). Born to Rebel. New York: Pantheon Books.