Twelfth Annual Psych Conference Abstracts
Auld Lang Syne: The Outcomes
and Predictors of New Year's Resolutions
Marci S. Mrykalo, Matthew D. Blagys, & John C. Norcross
University of Scranton
Adults (N = 159) making New Year's resolutions provided information
on their behavioral goals, change processes, and outcomes across three
months. Self-efficacy, skills to change, and readiness to change assessed
before January 1 all predicted positive outcome. Once into the new year,
successful resolvers employed more cognitive-behavioral processes but fewer
awareness-generating and emotion-enhancing processes than did nonsuccessful
resolvers. At 3 months, only 13% of the sample reported total success with
their primary resolution.
Predictors of Performance on the Major Field Achievement
Test in Psychology: A Preliminary Report
Marci S. Mrykalo, Amy L. Benjamin, Thomas P. Hogan, & John C. Norcross
University of Scranton
This study attempted to predict performance on the ETS Major Field
Achievement Test in Psychology from SAT, GPA, number of psychology credits,
scores on the NEO-PI-R (especially conscientiousness), and self-estimates
of performance on the test. Student participants were senior psychology
majors at a private, relatively selective university. The more traditional
predictors confirmed results from other studies. Results for the less traditional
predictors NEO-PI-R and self-estimates were generally not helpful.
The Difference in Attitudes Toward Alcohol
Between Young Adult Males and Adult Males
Lauren Mykalcio, Jamie Bruzzi, Lawrence T. Force, & Paul Schwartz
Mount Saint Mary College
In the last century, the fluctuation of laws concerning alcohol have
been tremendous. Society, crime, economics, and the government have all
influenced the decision made against this common drug.
The topic of the majority age being 18 and the legal age of drinking being
21 have arose many questions that we will try to answer in this study conducted.
Having individuals drink is a public issue which has to be addressed.
Every person sooner or later has or will be prone to the pressures related
to alcohol. In our society alcohol is wide spread and for the most part
acceptable.
The question of this study is, Is it logical to set the legal drinking
age at 21, when all other rights and privileges of adulthood (voting, signing
legal binding contracts, being drafted into war, etc.) begin at 18?
The focus of this paper will be on male attitudes concerning the use of
alcohol. These attitudes are going to be used to evaluate a) patterns of
alcohol use, b) reasons for use, and c) the associated problems related
to the use of alcohol.
The purpose of this investigation was a) to examine the prevalence of a
variety of social monitoring and enforcement activities along with other
attitudes concerning underage drinking; b) to determine how these attitudes
and perceptions differ among young adult males (n=25) ages 16-26, and adult
males (n=25) ages 36-46.
In order to address this topic a survey was distributed to these male populations
and a study was conducted.
There have been many studies concerning the use of alcohol, but few on
the attitudes concerning the issue of majority age in these two male groups.
This study attempted to address that issue.
Effect of Hyperfemininity/masculinity, Gender,
and Type of Video Seen on Justification Attitudes, Statistics, and Political
Views Concerning Date Rape
Kathy Parillo & Connie Schick
Bloomsburg University
In the initial stage of pre- /post- experiment testing the dual-process
model of persuasion (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986), approximately 400 undergraduates
completed questionnaires containing the Hypermasculinity (HM) and Hyperfemininity
(HF) Scales (Mosher & Sirkin, 1984; Murnen & Byrne, 1991); the
Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991); the
Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Burt, 1980); and items concerning date rape
justification attitudes, sexual attitudes and behaviors, alcohol use, and
media habits (hours per week watching/reading hard-core pornography and
sexual violence against women, MTV, and music videos). Then, in an extreme
group design, participants high (Hi) or low (Lo) on the HM/F (89 females,
19 males; 17-22 years old) viewed either an emotional video exploring the
impact of sex-laden music videos on rape or a factual video discussing
the political aspects (Conservative vs. Feminist views) of rape backlash,
and then answered the earlier rape justification items plus items concerning
rape statistics and reactions to views expressed in the videos. The dual-process
model was generally supported in that Hi HM/F participants, especially
males, accepted more justifications for rape and were more psychologically
reactant (changed to be more extreme) following the factual, compared to
the emotional, video. Our presentation will also discuss (a) the relationship
of sexual and alcohol behaviors to scale scores, items on the videos, and
rape justification items, and (b) implications for the use of videos in
the classroom.
The Effect of Shoulder-To-Waist Ratio, Income,
and Values on Female Mate Selection
Lina E. Pasquale & Elizabeth R. Vazquez
Iona College
People are not equally attracted to all members of the opposite sex.
Some are preferred more than others. A question that arises is which of
the various characteristics contribute to this preferential attractiveness
when one is choosing a mate. Many studies have been conducted on the characteristics
men consider to be important when searching for prospective mates. Few
studies have investigated what physical characteristics women consider
when searching for a potential mate. This study focused on the role of
shoulder-to-waist ratio (SWR), income, and values on judgments of mate
preference. The design was a 3 (SWR: 3:2.5, 4:2.5, 5:2.5) x 3 (income:
below average, average, above average) x 2 (values: traditional vs. nontraditional)
mixed factorial. Women (N = 270) viewed 3 male drawings with varying SWRs
and rated the desirability of each as potential mate. The SWR of 5:2.5
was rated most desirable in mate selection. These results can be best understood
in light of evolutionary mate selection theory. There was an interaction
between income an values, the male with above average income and nontraditional
values was most preferred as a mate. These results reflect the changing
roles of men and women in today's society. Our results suggest that researchers
who have manipulated the hip-to-waist ratio in men must reconsider the
validity of their position.
The Effects of Morphine and Naloxone on a Novel
Behavioral Index of Nociception in the Land Snail (Helix Aspersa)
Jennifer J. Quinn, Colleen M. Phillips, Karl M. Kyriss, & J. Timothy
Cannon
University of Scranton
Within the past decade, researchers have directed their attention toward
invertebrates in the study of pain pathways. As with vertebrates, terrestrial
snails possess opioid systems for the modulation of pain transmission.
Previous and current research uses a test stimulus similar to the hot-plate
in rodents. However, research in rodents has shown behavioral and physiological
differences between the hot-plate and the tail-flick test. This research
describes a novel behavioral assessment of nociception, the foot lift response
to radiant head, similar to the tail-flick test, in the land snail (Helix
aspersa). This response can be reliably elicited for extended periods of
time (over 1.5 hr). It is sensitive to the analgesic effects of morphine
in a dose dependent fashion (3.3, 10, and 30 mg in 2 ml molluscan saline),
and morphine analgesia can be at least partially blocked by naloxone (1
mg in 2 ml molluscan saline). Overall, the data suggest that the foot-lift
response to focal radiant heat may be a useful behavioral index of nociception
in the land snail. Like the tail-flick response in rats, this behavior
can be repeatedly elicited over the course of long periods. It is responsive
to the analgesic effects of morphine and this analgesia can be at least
partially reversed by the opiate antagonist noloxone.
Differences of Body-Image Ideals
Jennifer L. Renders
Utica College of Syracuse University
This study closely replicates the investigation of the Jacobi and Cash
(1994). It focuses on the main issues of height, weight, muscularity, female
breast size and body size. (Note: hair color, hair length and eye color
present in the original study have been omitted from this research). Desired
and actual physical characteristics are evaluated through four different
perspectives. The first viewpoint is the individuals' perceptions of their
current body images. Perspective two consists of subjects identifying the
appearances they most desire for themselves. The third viewpoint asks the
individuals to define what members of the opposite sex prefer when selecting
potential partners. Finally, the last view asks the participants what physical
attributes they prefer in the opposite sex. Differences between women's
desired appearances and actual self-perceptions were predicted. It was
predicted that males would identify actual self-perception and desired
attributes with fewer differences. It was also hypothesized that both sexes
would inaccurately define the preferences of the opposite sex.
Forty-four undergraduate students from a small private university in central
New York voluntarily participated in this study (20 men and 24 women).
Since this study deals with attributes which are desirable in the opposite
sex, only data from heterosexuals were analyzed. Neither specifications
of race nor ethnic backgrounds were examined.
The hypothesis that women possess greater differences than do men between
their actual perceived image and desired image was supported. The hypothesis
that both sexes exaggerate the physical attributes desired by the opposite
sex was not supported. Women exaggerate the desired physical attributes
in three of five areas, men did so only in one area. Thus, it can be concluded
that men more accurately perceive attributes desired by women.
Middle School Students Attitudes Toward Members of
Crowds
Sheri Rice, Eileen M. England
Ursinus College
The presence of social crowds, that is, cliques, in schools has long
been a concern of school administrators and parents. While school administration
may view crowds as a cause of tension, Brown (1990) has found crowds to
be important in providing prototypes for adolescents to use in identifying
and exploring life styles as they work through the process of identity
formation. Becker and England (1996) identified the presence of seven crowds
in a middle school: goody-goodie, nerd, popular, athlete, headbanger, wigger,
and druggie. Since identity formation includes decisions about what is
"right for me" and "not right for me," it is hypothesized
that evaluative processes are an important part of discriminating between
crowds. The present study investigated attitudes that middle school students
hold toward members of crowds. Participants were 148 seventh grade students.
Each participant read a character description of a member of one of the
seven crowds, then rated their personal feelings for that individual on
both positive and negative emotions and rated whether they would like to
take part in academic and social activities with that individual. Results
showed that subjects were significantly more likely to want to participate
in social and neutral behaviors with members of the popular crowd than
either the nerd crowd or the druggie crowd. As expected, the subjects preferred
to participate in academic activities with members of the goody-goodie
and nerd crowds over the athletes, headbangers, wiggers, and druggies.
Regarding emotions, the subjects rated the druggie crowd as significantly
more negative than the popular crowd and the athletes.
Split and Divide vs. Superordinate Goals:
"SAD" vs. "SOG" Approaches to Harmonizing Race Relations
Kenneth D. Richardson, Robert Cranmer, Timika Lightfoot, & Jody
Leventhal
Ursinus College
A rising tide of anecdotes regarding "cultural diversity"
programs that increase rather than decrease racial conflicts led the present
authors to evaluate two common approaches to program design. One, referred
to by us as the "Split and Divide" model ("SAD") has
its origins in postmodern literary criticism and has been anecdotally associated
with diversity interventions that exacerbate inter-ethnic conflicts. A
second, the "Superordinate Goals" model ("SOG") is
derived from empirical research on human relations and has a demonstrable
potential for harmonizing relations between social groups. The kinds interventions
associated these two outlooks are very different. "SAD" approaches
typically involve training sessions that rhetorically maximize ethnic or
cultural differences, the argument being that heightened awareness of differences
produces positive change. In contrast, "SOG" approaches are task
based. They involve placing persons from different backgrounds in situations
in which they must cooperate to solve problems that affect all participants,
the prediction being that behavioral cooperation enhances tolerance. The
present experiment contrasted these two approaches in terms of their abilities
to affect subjects' estimates of the potential for harmonious relations
between whites and African Americans. Subjects were placed in dyads and
asked to discuss the state of race relations in the United States. They
were given instructions that were reflective of either (1) the "SAD"
approach (generate a list of issues on which whites and African Americans
would likely differ) or (2) the "SOG" approach (generate a list
of problems that all people would have to work together to solve). Subjects
subsequently filled out a questionnaires that asked them to estimate the
degree of compatibility between the views of African Americans and whites
on a number of social issues. Consistent with prior work on human relations,
subjects in the "SAD" conditions rated the potential for racial
harmony as significantly lower than those in the "SOG" conditions.
Results are discussed in terms of (1) programs designed to foster "diversity,"
and (2) the dangers of attempting to base interventions in the behavioral
domain on literary theory.
The Mood Congruence Effect with Perceptual
vs. Conceptual Tests of Implicit Memory
Angela J. Ruhl & Anita M. Meehan
Kutztown University
Depressed individuals have been shown to remember more negative words than
positive words on explicit memory tasks such as free recall. This study
investigated whether there is an implicit mood-congruent memory bias in
depression. On implicit memory tasks, subjects are not directly asked to
recall previously encoded stimuli. Depressed (n=18) and non-depressed college
students (n=24), as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory, were randomly
assigned to either a conceptual or a perceptual implicit memory task condition.
Positive, negative, and neutral word stimuli were used to determine if
there was a differential recall effect according to word valence. Depressed
subjects were predicted to recall more negative than positive words on
the conceptual implicit memory task than the non-depressed subjects. No
mood-congruent memory bias for depressed subjects was expected to occur
on the perceptual implicit memory task. Analyses indicated a trend toward
the predicted interaction, with neutral words in the analysis (p < .10),
and without neutral words in the analysis (p < .06). Results support
the view that a mood-congruent memory bias in depression depends on semantic,
conceptual processes.
Differences between Knowledge and Sexual Behavior
of Male and Female College Students Regarding AIDS
Catherine A. Salato, Jennifer S. Raney, Larry Force, & Paul Schwartz
Mount Saint Mary College
Studies have shown that HIV/AIDS has been increasing rapidly among
the young adult population (18-25). At this stage in life young adults,
both males and females, are egocentric and often feel they are misunderstood.
They believe they are invulnerable to any harm and therefore, do not take
the proper precautions for their sexual behavior. This way of thinking
along with the close-mindedness of these individuals are primary factors
to the spread of HIV/AIDS among these males and females. Our study was
conducted to distinguish the similarities and differences between male
and female college students' sexual behavior with regard to their knowledge
of AIDS. It was found that both males and females are educated on this
topic to some degree, but males tend to be more responsible in regards
to taking proper precautions. Males were also shown to be more pleasure
seeking, while females were more goal- oriented. AIDS was taken seriously
by the participants, but we found women to be more aware of the reality
of AIDS.
Free and Superordinate Cued Recall in First-
and Fifth-Grade Children, and Active and Passive Elaboration at the Subordinate
Level
Cynthia Sepe, Catherine C. Moersdorf, & James P. Buchanan
University of Scranton
First- and fifth-grade children were tested for free and superordinate
cued recall of the names of 16 pictures of items shown either singularly
(shark) or paired with another subordinate example from the same basic
level category (fish: shark and goldfish). Even when the first graders
were allowed to choose (active elaboration) the TBR item in the paired
condition, they were only minimally able to recall at the subordinate level
as compared to the fifth graders.
Gender Differences in Gestural Communications
among College Students
Danielle Simonin & Marjoe Marcellus
Ursinus College
Gender differences have been explored in a wide variety of behaviors
including patterns of communication. Women are stereotypically considered
seen as more effective at communication while men are perceived as less
willing to communicate, particularly regarding feelings. These differences
in communication are also commonly held to be true for gestural communication
as well; i.e., women are seen as more commonly using gestures to communicate
positive feelings as compared to men. But given that men are stereotypically
more aggressive, it may be that men communicate gesturally using aggressive
types of gestures more than do women. The current study was undertaken
to investigate differences between men and women in terms of their gestural
communication. Male and female college students at a private college in
suburban Philadelphia were observed in four common social settings. Gesturing
was operationally defined in terms of specific gestures (e.g., hugs, holding
hands, pushing, etc.) and recorded accordingly. The results were then examined
by grouping the specific gestures into three different categories: aggressive,
non-aggressive, and neutral. The results supported our hypothesis that
men do engage in more aggressive acts than women, while women tended to
display a higher amount of non- aggressive acts. Interestingly, men exhibited
a higher amount of neutral acts overall as compared to women. This evidence
suggests that styles of communication in men and women are largely defined
by the common characteristics and behavioral patterns within their gender.
Bingo anyone? What kids think old people do.
Natesha M. Bailey & Carole Slotterback
University of Scranton
A great deal of research has examined attitudes of children toward
older adults, but usually only within the context of changing negative
attitudes. The current study surveyed 462 fouth, fifth, and sixth grade
students about thier attitudes toward older adults, and included questions
about what the best things about being old were, as well as the kinds of
things the children thought old people do. Several questions about thier
relationships with their grandparents were also included. Results indicated
that the majority of children had at least one grandparent living (average
age was at least 65.5 years), and the ages for their grandpaents did not
correlate at all with ages given for when people are considered to be "old,"
indicating that grandparents were considered to be an exception to the
category of "old people." Correlational analyses were also preformed
on the types of activities of grandparents and the children's relationships
with grandparents. Some examples of types of activities done with grandparents
included playing cards, talking, going to the movies, chores, watching
TV, and being nice to them.
Physical and Psychological Symptoms
in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Menopausal Women
Lauren M. Smith, Stephen F. Ceparano, Samara Engstrom, Jessica Richardson,
& Carol Brejnak
Ithaca College
Hot flashes are a common occurrence during the menopause. A hot flash
is characterized by feelings of intense heat, and sweating sometimes followed
by chills. Studies differ as to whether psychological symptoms accompany
physical symptoms during the menopause. Those studies that find psychological
symptoms differ in their interpretation of the cause. The present study
examined whether or not menopausal women who experience hot flashes (symptomatic),
also experience more psychological and physical symptoms than do women
that do not have hot flashes (asymptomatic). A self-rated questionnaire
was used to assess the physical and psychological symptoms of the menopausal
participants. Psychological symptoms were categorized according to anxiety,
depression and general psychological questions. It was found that symptomatic
women reported having more anxiety symptoms than asymptomatic women (p
= .01). There was no significant differences found with depression (p =
.165). Physical symptoms were categorized according to hot flashes, sexual,
and general physical questions. Symptomatic women also reported significantly
more physical symptoms (p = .02). There were no significant differences
between symptomatic and asymptomatic women relating to sexual questions
(e.g. vaginal dryness). Results of the present study indicate that psychological
symptoms do accompany physical symptoms. Symptomatic, but not asymptomatic
women experienced more psychological symptoms during the menopause. The
casual attribution of these symptoms awaits further study.
Sex Differences in Hostile Humor Directed Towards
the Same and the Opposite Sex
Sarah Sorber & Jean J. O'Brein
Kings College
Religion and Altruistic Behavior
Theodore G. Sterner
Kutztown University
Twenty-two undergraduate students at Kutztown University completed
a questionnaire designed to measure the degree to which affectivity, past
altruistic behaviors, religious philosophy, and religious philosophy and
religious activity could be used as predictors of willingness to perform
future altruistic behavior. A bipolar depression - happiness scale was
used to measure affectivity (Joseph and McCollam 1992). Scales were constructed
to measure past altruistic behavior (PB), religious activity (RA), religious
philosophy (RP) and future altruistic behavior (FB). Results of t-tests
indicated significant differences between males and females on several
factors. Females were higher on item #18, "life has a purpose"
and item #43, "my beliefs greatly determine my behavior." Males
were higher on item #24, "life is meaningless," item #53, "willing
to teach someone to read," and item #61, "willing to volunteer
at a crisis hot-line." A multiple regression analysis using altruistic
as the criteria went from .38 to .59 in two steps. Predictor variables
were item #75, "gender" and religious philosophy (RP scale).
Religious philosophy was a moderate predictor of future altruistic behavior
in this small n study.
Does the Presence of a Video Camera Motivate
Helping Behavior? A Field Experiment
Ryan J. Tadeo
New York University
The egoism-altruism issue was investigated in a field experiment which
examined patterns of making cask donations to a street musician playing
on a sidewalk in Greenwich Village, NYC. It was hypothesized that bystanders
(pedestrians on the sidewalk) would be more likely to donate money to a
street musician when they and the musicians were being video taped than
when there was no video camera in evidence. It was also expected that more
money would be donated with the camera present. In the experimental condition
a video camera was operated approximately ten feet from the musician (a
confederate). In the control condition, no camera was present, however,
the pedestrian traffic was recorded by a camera in a remote location. Two
experimental sessions and two control sessions were conducted on consecutive
days, with each session lasting between one and one half-hours.
The results indicated that bystanders gave significantly more while the
camera was absent, suggesting that there may be an aversion to engaging
in helping behavior while such behavior is being recorded. These results
raise the possibility that such donors may wish to maintain anonymity when
engaging in acts of helping behavior.
No Evidence for Inhibition in the Two Bottle
Preference Test Following Flavor-Calorie Conditioning
Nina L. Tarner, Amy Moser, & Ron Mehiel
Shippensburg University
Rats were conditioned to prefer one flavor over another by pairing
with 6.1% dextrose or a 1% dextrose and .125% saccharin solution. A control
group received the same conditioning stimuli, but the 6.1% dextrose was
explicitly not paired with F+ flavor. Following conditioning, all rats
were tested 6 ways: CS+ vs. CS-, CS+ vs. a novel flavor, CS- vs. a novel
flavor, CS+ alone, CS novel alone and CS- alone. It hypothesized that in
group paired, the presence of the CS- in the two bottle tests would provide
inhibition and result in smaller intakes of CS+ compared to tests of CS+
without the CS-. Group unpaired would not be subject to the inhibition
the two bottle tests. Although no group differences were obtained in the
one bottle tests, the two bottle tests revealed that group paired had learned
to prefer F+ while group unpaired had not. Comparisons between intakes
of F+ in the one and two bottle testes in group Paired revealed no evidence
for inhibition of F+ intake due to the presence of F-.
Billy Joel was Wrong: Religion, Sex and Alcohol
Behaviors, Attachment Style, Self-Esteem, Perfectionism, Dating Goals,
and Love Attitudes of College Students
Heidi S. Trauger & Connie Schick
Bloomsburg University
Undergraduates (156 females, 73 males; 18-22 years old) answered Hazan
and Shaver's (1987) 3-group and Bartholomew and Horowitz's (1991) 4-Group
attachment items, also indicating which of all 7 best described them; Rozenberg's
(1965) and Houston and Kelly's (1986) Self-Esteem Scales; Hewitt, Flett
Turnbill-Donovan, and Mikail's (1991) Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism
subscale (SSP); a fundamentalism scale (Brown, Astor-Stetson, & Beck,
1994); Sanderson and Cantor's (1995) Social Dating Goals Scale; Eros, Ludus,
and Mania subscales of the Love Attitude Scale (Hendrick & Hendrick,
1986); items from Simpson and Gangstad's (1991) Sociosexuality Orientation
Inventory; the TWEAK alcoholism scale (Russell, 1994); and alcohol and
sexual behavior items. Major findings were: (a) secures were higher on
self-esteem and intimacy goals (than avoidants, fearfuls, dismissers) and
lower on SPP; and anxious-ambivalents were higher than others on mania;
(b) Catholics scored higher on the TWEAK and going to parties to pick up
new sex partners, and female Catholics had engaged in more sexual behavior
and were less fundamentalistic; and (c) fundamentalists were higher on
SPP, having to be committed to the person to have sex, and number of times
in love; and lower on being "under the influence" when first
experiencing sex and thinking "sex without love is OK." Other
findings, especially those related to alcohol and sexual behavior, will
also be discussed.
Job Satisfaction Among College Faculty
(WITHDRAWN)
Aldona Vainius
Ursinus College
Why do people continue in any particular activity? What satisfaction
do they derive from it that allows them to continue to engage in a vocation
happily? The present study attempted to investigate the sources of job
satisfaction for college professors. In a survey of 25 college professors
in a small liberal arts college located in suburban Philadelphia, instructors
with varying degrees of experience from a variety of academic disciplines
were questioned about factors involved with job satisfaction. The survey
included items regarding how satisfying the general aspects of an instructors
job are (e.g., research support, interaction with colleagues, contact with
students) as well as the impact of more specific ethical questions (e.g.,
giving low grades to students). The results showed that professors that
had less than two years of experience found student interaction was the
most satisfying aspect of the job. With increasing years of experience
the professor's faculty interactions became an important reason for remaining
at a university to teach. Also, as the years of experience increased, along
with student and faculty interactions, salary also became an increasingly
important factor in job satisfaction. This indicates that faculty job satisfaction
depends on several factors and rather than being stable over time, faculty
change in respect to their sources of job satisfaction.
The Effect of Real Estate Agents' Bias on Homosexual
Couples
Faika A. K. Zanjani & Christina M. Brady
Cedar Crest College
It is clear that homosexuality exists in society. Some researchers
have hypothesized that approximately 10% of the population is gay or lesbian.
However, due to previous negative views toward homosexuality as being "wrong,"
people have continuously discriminated against the gay and lesbian population.
To confirm this discrimination in society it was hypothesized that real
estate agents will spend more time on the phone with straight couples than
with gay couples who express the desire to purchase a house. In order to
conduct this experiment there were 10 randomly chosen real estate agencies
selected to be participants. Each real estate agent was presented with
two fictional scenarios at separate times. The first time the agency was
called the control condition was presented, which consisted of a cross-sex
scenario. The second time the agency was called the experimental condition
was presented, which consisted of a same-sex scenario. Each scenario was
exactly alike with reference to the amount of income, type of profession,
interest in buying a house and the futuristic possibility of the presence
of children. The only difference with the scenarios was whether the couple
was heterosexual or lesbian. With each trial the amount of time spent on
the phone was recorded in minutes and seconds. In conclusion, there was
significant difference between the amount of time spent on the phone with
a homosexual couple and a straight couple. In this case, the homosexual
couple received less time on the phone when compared to a straight couple
due to the personal discrimination against homosexuals couples. Therefore,
the results of this experiment support the original hypothesis that real
estate agents do possess a bias against homosexual couples when being compared
to straight couples. These results confirm the initial belief that discrimination
does exist with regard to the gay and lesbian population.