What problems do you see with this study and how would you correct them? Just a few pointers
Due to society’s seeming emphasis on competition among boys and men, a researcher recently suggested that men should do better than women when placed in a competitive situation. To test this hypothesis, the investigator gave 20 males and 20 females a task requiring them to put together a model airplane as rapidly as possible. To induce a competitive atmosphere, the researcher would give the person who completed the task most quickly, 4 tickets to the Grey Cup. As a group, men were found to have assembled their planes twice as quickly as the women’s group. The latter group difference was statistically significant. The researcher concluded that men work better than women under competitive conditions. There are some issues with this study that might make this conclusion suspect. What problems do you see with this study and how would you correct them?
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M$4 Answers
- No Control Group
- Small Sample Size
- Assignment Probably Biased Toward Males
- Reward Probably Biased Toward Males
The biggest problem with this study is that there was no control group. For a study like this to be considered valid, there MUST be a control group. Another set of males and females should have put the planes together without the prize, and then the results should have been compared.
There are other problems too which might have introduced a little bias, but the one that completely invalidates the findings is the lack of a control group.
How To Fix Study:
- Include a Control Group
- Use a Gender Neutral Assignment.
- Use a Gender Neutral Prize (Such as cash.)
- Use larger groups, or repeat the study several times.
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M$
The competition is also not objective as it is more biased towards men. A more objective task would be better.
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M$
If the sampling is done correctly and if the statistical tests are calculated flawlessly (i.e. fulfilling all hypotheses), the fact that “the difference is statistically significant” means that sample size and sample composition are correctly accounted for.
However, inferring from this that men work better than women under competitive conditions is nearly impossible.
First, the study is highly dependent on the task: just building another type of model airplane Y instead of X might change the result. One should first demonstrate that building model airplane X is representative of all possible competitive situations of real life. Tough demonstration... If this is not the case, a bias has to be taken into account.
Second, the study is highly dependent on the motivation of participants. One should demonstrate that both men and women have the same performance building the airplane X (taking into account the incentive of the Grey Cup tickets) as succeeding in competitive situations of real life. Good luck to prove this...
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M$
I agree.
It is possible that men have a better apprehension of geometric spatial designs. (that is suggested by anthropological theories such the one given by Desmond Morris) Therefore, they may perform better at building airplanes in general. Similarly, women may perform better in Languages tasks such as making translations.This doesn't have anything to do with competition. As you say "one should demonstrate that both men and women have the same performance building the airplane X "
Other problem I think is the wording of the conclusion "The researcher concluded that men work better than women under competitive conditions"
A test will result in "there is significant evidence/there is no significant evidence" and not in exclusive, black or white, conclusions.
--Is the size of the sample (the number of persons selected) proper?
--Is the task assigned proper?
--what does the result of the test tell you? does it make sense?
--Is the prize correct?
--Is the conclusion correct?
Why or why not?
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M$
