Gender Survey Lab

Due Monday 3/16

Gender Survey Lab

Purpose:
-To use the survey method to investigate gender difference

Method:
-Divide into pairs
-Choose a target area of behavior to investigate in which you think there may be some gender difference, or in which people often assume there is some gender difference
-Develop a hypothesis about the target behavior (i.e. how much gender difference you will find)
-Compose 2-4 questions to give measurable data related to the
hypothesis
-Administer the survey
-Compile the data on your selected questions
-Analyze the results

Analysis:
-Record the data for all relevant questions from each survey
-Assess and categorize the responses
-Calculate averages, where appropriate
-If useful, create scatter or bar graphs to assemble and display the data
-Analyze the results, looking for patterns and/or correlations

Conclusions:
-Draw possible conclusions from your results
-Does you hypothesis appear correct? To what extent?
-Consider possible flaws and uncertainties in your results
-Discuss ways of improving the survey relative to your target behavior

Chapter 16

Due Tuesday 3/10

Chapter 16 Questions:

Section 1:

1. What gender roles are typical in the U.S. today, in your experience? How are these different form traditional gender roles?
2. How do gender stereotypes compare to the way men and women see themselves?
3. We often talk about having a masculine and feminine side to our personalities. Using the list on page 364, describe which of your personality traits are more “masculine” and which are more “feminine.”

Section 2:

4. What gender differences exist in cognitive ability? How significant are these?
5. Discuss gender differences in:
a. aggression
b. communication style
c. mate selection
6. Read the box on page 368. According Tannen, how do men and women differ in terms of intimacy and independence? How does the story of Nancy and Josh reflect this?

Section 3:

7. What is gender typing? How does it develop?
8. According to biologists, how do genetics and hormones shape gender roles?
9. What does psychoanalytic theory tell us about gender development?
10. How do reinforcement and modeling shape gender according to social-learning theorists?
11. What is a gender schema? According to the theory, how do we acquire them?
12. Read the box on page 375. How does television seem to influence our ideas of gender? Do you agree that TV has a significant impact? Why?

Section 4:

13. How are gender roles in the United States different today than they were in the past?
14. What did Margaret Mead find among the tribes of New Guinea? Why has she been ciricized?
15. What do you think these variations tell us about gender and the source of gender roles?