1 Psychology 320: Gender Psychology Lecture 4

2 Invitational Office Hour Invitations, By Student Number for September 24th

3 Research Methods 1.What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)

4 By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 1. describe the distinct types of studies used in gender- related research. 2. interpret the statistics associated with correlational and meta-analytic research.

5 Research in gender psychology involves five types of studies:  Designed to examine cause and effect relationships between variables. 1. Experimental Studies What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)

6  In conducting an experiment, a researcher: (a) randomly assigns participants to groups that will receive different levels of the hypothesized “causal” or independent variable (IV). (b) administers a distinct treatment (i.e., level of the IV) to each group. (c) measures the hypothesized “effect” or dependent variable (DV) for each group.

7 Participants Group A Group B Random Assignment Treatment A Posttest A Simple Experiment Treatment B Posttest

8  Example: Wirth and Bodenhausen (2009) Presented participants with case summaries of Karen and Brian suffering from alcoholism (male- typical) or depression (female-typical). Examined reactions to males and females suffering from gender-typical and atypical mental illness. Randomly assigned participants to one of four conditions: Karen/depression; Karen/alcoholism; Brian/depression; Brian/alcoholism.

9 Participants experienced less negative affect, greater sympathetic reactions, and greater willingness to help those with gender-atypical mental illness. Participants were more likely to believe that the etiology of gender-atypical mental illness was biological. As a result, participants were less likely to stigmatize those who exhibited gender-atypical mental illness.

10  Among the most frequently used methods in research on sex, gender, and sexual orientation. 2. Quasi-Experimental Studies (Ex Post Facto Studies)  Designed to contrast two or more existing groups on a variable of interest.  Used when an experiment cannot be conducted due to ethical or practical limitations.

11  Example: Rotter and Rotter (1988) Contrasted females and males with respect to ability to recognize facial expressions of negative emotions. In contrast to males, females were better able to recognize sadness, disgust, and fear. In contrast to females, males were better able to recognize anger (particularly in other males).

12  A cautionary note about the interpretation of mean differences between males and females: X Males X Females

13 3. Correlational studies  Designed to examine the extent to which 2 naturally- occurring variables covary.  Typically measured by the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r).

14  r measures the extent to which a linear relationship exists between 2 variables. Magnitude of r: strength of relationship between variables. Sign of r (+ vs. -): direction of relationship between variables.

15 Masculinity Scores r = Positive Linear Relationship Aggressiveness Scores

16 Negative Linear Relationship r = Aggressiveness Scores Femininity Scores

17 Height Androgyny Scores No Relationship r = 0.00

18 School Conflict Scores Masculinity Scores Nonlinear or Curvilinear Relationship r = 0.00

19 Research Methods 1.What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)